About this episode
Art Bell provides live, unfiltered coverage as Hurricane Katrina bears down on New Orleans, offering a radio perspective during one of America's most devastating natural disasters. What happens when a major American city faces complete destruction, and how do media and citizens respond in real time? Bell critiques the ratings-driven coverage of reporters "hanging on lampposts" while providing genuine concern for affected listeners. He shares personal worry for his longtime friend Lynn Whitlake in Lake Charles, Louisiana, offering his home as sanctuary while communication to the region remains severed. The broadcast captures the eerie prescience of his novel's scenario playing out in reality, as New Orleans faces potential burial under twenty feet of water. Bell discusses the bowl-like geography that makes New Orleans uniquely vulnerable and the national impact this disaster will have on all Americans. Throughout the coverage, he balances criticism of sensationalized media coverage with genuine compassion for those in the storm's path. This historic broadcast documents a pivotal moment in American history through the lens of late-night radio, offering both immediate crisis coverage and broader social commentary.