Rebuilding tracks and lives: honoring New Orleans, 20 years after Katrina

An NS train hauls vital FEMA products to survivors of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina, the spirit of resilience continues to define New Orleans and Norfolk Southern’s history together. From restoring critical rail infrastructure in the immediate aftermath after the storm to continued support for community-led housing efforts today, we remain deeply committed to helping the city move forward.

Restoring tracks 20 years ago

After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Team NS worked swiftly to restore the historic rail bridge over Lake Pontchartrain, originally built in 1884 by the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad. Despite losing over five miles of track, we had trains running again in just 16 days, marking one of the first visible signs of recovery in the Gulf Region and a sign of hope for the city. NS trains also moved important recovery items down to the Gulf.

Reflections from our railroaders:

• “Railroaders have a lot of grit and a lot of pride. The employees at that time really came through, and that’s the biggest thing I took away.” - Jeremy Myers, Maintenance Supervisor (2005) / Senior Field Safety Representative (2025)
• “It's something you never wish on anybody to have to go through. But it's something looking back on, you're very grateful that you were part of it. You got to participate in getting the area back open to freight. It was an excellent learning experience that I don't ever wish on anybody.” - Brian Mullins, Assistant Division Engineer (2005) / Rail Welding & Fabrication Manager (2025)
• “The big thing I took away from Katrina was just how hard a disaster response truly is. It’s prepared me to be cognizant that during a major event, you’re not going to have all the answers, but we’re going to work through it and then we’ll adjust as we can” - Adam Wock, Track Supervisor (2005) / Engineer Planning Manager (2025)

See photos from Katrina below.

Our Investment in New Orleans’ Future

Today, NS is helping rebuild lives by supporting the launch of a new Resiliency Center in partnership with Rebuilding Together New Orleans. This $50,000 contribution builds on a growing collaboration between the nonprofit and NS, which provides critical home repairs for elderly, disabled, and veteran homeowners.

The new Resiliency Center will expand workforce training opportunities, house the nonprofit’s operations, and serve as a hub for organizations advancing disaster recovery and housing equity.

In addition to the Resiliency Center, we are partnering with Rebuilding Together to support New Orleans families recovering from hurricanes and other disasters, strengthening shared efforts to strengthen community resilience.

• In 2024, NS awarded a $15,000 Safety First grant to support local families rebuilding after storms. You can read more about the existing partnership here.
• The 2025 grant will help fund the Resiliency Center as well as building materials (lumber, roofing, paint, accessibility modifications) and support for the organization’s Katrina 20 Week of Service.

What They’re Saying

"Our support of Rebuilding Together New Orleans goes beyond repairing homes — it’s about honoring resilience, building stability, and investing in the future of communities across New Orleans." — Kristin Wong, Director, NS Foundation and Community Impact

"We’re grateful to have a partnership with Norfolk Southern that reflects their shared values to make a difference in the lives and well-being of New Orleanians. While this is a reflective time for us all, we continue to look to our future where New Orleans resiliency continues to shine through darkness." — William Stoudt, Executive Director, Rebuilding Together New Orleans

Crews work to repair and replace NS track impacted by Hurricane Katrina: