Pennington Biomedical Reflects on 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
August 29, 2025
Employees organized diabetes relief efforts and served more than 50 shelters across Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi.
Following Hurricane Katrina, Pennington Biomedical Research Center faculty, staff, and volunteers mobilized to support evacuees and provided lifesaving diabetes care.
– Photo provided by Pennington Biomedical Research Center
As Louisiana reflects on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Pennington Biomedical Research Center is remembering the efforts of its faculty, staff, and volunteers who mobilized in 2005 to support evacuees, provide lifesaving diabetes care to those in need.
Shortly after the storm made landfall, employees began looking for ways to help and knew that people displaced with diabetes had special needs that Pennington Biomedical could meet. Employees rallied to launch a massive diabetes relief effort to help thousands affected by the storm’s devastation.
“When Hurricane Katrina struck, our community came together like never before to help in any way possible,” said Dr. John Kirwan, Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical. “Our team didn’t hesitate to step up – whether it was supporting displaced individuals, getting insulin into shelters, or creating thousands of diabetes care packs. These efforts reflect the compassion, resilience, and commitment to health that define Pennington Biomedical.”
Volunteers delivered life-saving insulin to 47 shelters in a single day. The team’s work prevented dangerous complications for thousands living with diabetes when access to care was cut off.
Explore LSU’s role in response, recovery, resilience, and research following Hurricane
Katrina.Turning Tragedy into Impact