'GMA's' Robin Roberts returns to Gulf Coast 20 years after Hurricane Katrina in ABC News special

In August of 2005, another hurricane in the forecast dominated headlines from coast to coast, but this wasn't just any hurricane, nor was it another story for "Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts.

Friday marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, destroying so many communities known for their vibrancy, history, and culture.

In her new special, "Hurricane Katrina: 20 Years After the Storm with Robin Roberts," Roberts, a Gulf Coast native, returns to some of the hardest hit areas, retracing the same steps she took while reporting in the days and weeks after the storm.

Robin Roberts:The actual hurricane came across not far from my hometown.

All of America learned just how personal it really was as they watched Roberts during a live report.

Roberts:It's 2025 now. Everybody shares everything. Twenty years ago, especially as a journalist, you were buttoned up. You didn't show emotion, and I couldn't help it.

Roberts:I was surprised how emotional I got. There are people tuning in this morning, and they don't know about their loved ones and what that feels like. Here, I thought I was going to get fired, and the public responded in such a positive way. They were so appreciative of the authenticity, helping them understand the severity of Katrina.

Now 20 years later, the story continues as Roberts retraces the steps she took while reporting in the days and weeks after the storm first made landfall.

Roberts:There are many that did not make it to this point to be able to see where we've come.

Katrina remains one of deadliest hurricanes in American history, and one of the costliest. It also forced us to reshape our thinking about natural disasters.

Roberts:It was to say we were you, and this is how we got from that point where you are now to where we are now.

The same can be said for coverage of the recent tragic flooding in Texas, to the devastating wildfires in Southern California and Maui.

Roberts:Being able to show people that are going through these things right now, you're not going to be forgotten. We've been to Southern California. We were there in Maui. We were there down in Texas, and I think it was in part in what we saw after Katrina. The demand from the audience, don't just fly in and fly out. You know? This is an ongoing story.

As for Roberts' story, the next chapter in the aftermath of Katrina is filled with so much love and pride for her hometown.

Roberts:Southerners were proud, and we like to do things on our own, and we can do it. Vulnerability is a strength. It's not a weakness, and we showed that we were vulnerable but strong, and I'm really proud of the strength and the courage to believe that the best was yet to come.

Tune into "Hurricane Katrina: 20 Years After the Storm with Robin Roberts" on Friday, Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. ET, on ABC. Stream the next day on Hulu and Disney+ for bundle subscribers.

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