When Hurricane Katrina unleashed its fury in August 2005, the rising waters didn’t just flood New Orleans — they uprooted lives.
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Families were forced to flee with little more than the clothes on their backs, including Pastor Shannon Verrett.
“It took us about 17 hours to get here with my family,” Pastor Shannon Verrett recalls.
A Life Changed Overnight
With just two days’ worth of clothes and no clear destination, Verrett packed his family into a car and headed west to Houston.
“I’ll never forget when the impact hit my daughter. She sketched a picture showing us homeless in our car. I pulled over, walked behind a building, and just burst into tears,” he said.
Houston Opens Its Heart
As the humanitarian crisis unfolded, Houston responded. The city turned the aging Astrodome — once home to baseball legends — into a lifeline. It became ground zero for emergency relief efforts.
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Up to 25,000 people were sheltered in the Astrodome. Inside, it became a city within a city — with food, cots, medical care, showers, and volunteers offering a warm welcome.
“The miracle was we were able to do it in about 14 hours before we took our first person in,” said former Harris County Judge Robert Eckels, who helped lead the massive response.
More than 5,000 initial volunteers eventually registered 60,000 others to help.
A Symbol of Support
Though Pastor Verrett and his family didn’t sleep in the Dome, they relied on it for urgent services.
“We ran out of our prescription medication — we were able to get that,” he said. “They provided food, gas cards — all those types of things. It was a great resource. It was humbling.”
Houston’s Identity on Display
For Judge Eckels, the city’s response still resonates:
“I think more than anything, it showed how much we care,” he said. “That same sense of community still exists today.”
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Pastor Verrett, who now calls Houston home, says Katrina deepened his faith and purpose:
“Our model at Houston Franklin Avenue Baptist Church is that we’re a church that loves on people,” he explained. “That’s our greatest gift.”
What’s Next for the Astrodome?
Today, the Astrodome is quiet. But for many Houstonians, its legacy still echoes — a powerful reminder of compassion, resilience, and unity.
Still, its future remains uncertain.
“When you see the Astrodome standing empty today, what feelings does it stir in you — pride, frustration, unfinished business?” “Probably more frustration and unfinished business,” said Judge Eckels. “It’s one of those facilities that should either be redone or torn down. Somebody needs to make a decision.”
A Legacy That Lives On
20 years later, the Astrodome’s role during Katrina is more than just a footnote in history. It’s a symbol of what’s possible when a city steps up — together.
And while its past is unforgettable, its future remains unwritten.