In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, funeral directors, coroners, and DMORT waded into the dark, toxic floodwaters—not to save the living, but to honor the dead with unflagging determination and unwavering dignity. When the rescue missions ended, they stayed on.

Many of these heroes are no longer with us, and many more live to this day with chronic health conditions brought on by mold and respiratory threats, contaminated waters, and relentless exposure to hazardous conditions.

In the chaos of the aftermath, funeral professionals remained with the deceased, working tirelessly through destroyed infrastructure and devastation, waiting on countless families. DMORT and coroners led the effort to identify the fallen, organizing temporary morgues and dignified burials. Communities rallied, donating over 30 hearses, supplies, and aid. And, when some of the deceased could not be identified or claimed, money was raised for a memorial, where each unclaimed or unidentified victim was placed in a numbered casket, adorned with a rose, and entombed in crypts in the shape of a hurricane’s spiral, in the eye of which stands the memorial to the lives lost.

On this anniversary, we would like to remember all those in our profession who took on untold risks to bring peace, dignity, and closure to the victims of Hurricane Katrina—what they achieved and what they sacrificed. We are honored to share a calling with you.