While living amid a quiet hurricane season…so far, and the 17th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina soon approaching, Apple TV+ has an upcoming miniseries that is sure to raise memories. The Hurricane Katrina miniseries, Five Days at Memorial, plots a dilemma for doctors and nurses trying to decide who gets care and who gets rescued when supplies are limited. Cherry Jones (24) portrays the Director of Nursing, Susan Mulderick. As the head of the Emergency Disaster Committee, she quickly became the Incident Commander for Katrina, tasked with making impossible decisions about the 2,000 people inside the hospital when the hurricane struck. Who gets rescued first? Is it the sickest, most critical patients or those who can quickly walk to the rescue boats?

Also starring in Five Days is actress Adepero Oduye who plays nurse manager Karen Wynn who hopes “we don’t repeat this again.” The Falcon and The Winter Soldier star continued to reflect on the 8-part miniseries, saying in a recent interview:

“I’m very proud that the story was handled with care and tenderness. I don’t think we’re telling people how to feel about anything. We’re just showing you as best we can what this story was like for these people.”

Hurricane Katrina Struck the Gulf Coast and Entire Nation Emotionally

Five Days at Memorial shows the socioeconomic and racial issues that were at the forefront. At one point, things switch from the devastating scene in New Orleans to three men having lunch on a golf course. While enjoying a sumptuous lunch at a country club, three upper-class white men discuss whether an event like Hurricane Katrina is “good for business” as predominantly poor and Black people of New Orleans fight for their lives while their homes are destroyed. But It’s not just a racial divide. Hardworking healthcare professionals were struggling to make tough decisions during the raging storm.


The 20-foot storm surge ruptured the levees around New Orleans, flooding 80% of the city. The water quickly flooded the hospital’s basement, shutting off the generators, which created stifling heat. There was no evacuation plan in place, and the rescue boats and helicopters were far and few between. Susan (Jones) had to choose who to send on the few boats and helicopters that arrived. Dr. Anna Pou, played by Vera Farmiga, grapples with what to do about the patients who were about to be left behind. Director Carlton Cuse told Showbiz:

“We really wanted to examine that process nonjudgmentally and let the audience see what unfolded. And then the audience could make up their own mind about the circumstances. But mostly, I think we were trying to point out how any health care professional is put in situations like this where health care has to be rationed, where you have to make decisions about who gets what or who gets rescued or who gets prioritized. Those are terrible, impossible decisions that no one should have to make. And hopefully in the future, people will learn from experiences like this, and we won’t have situations like this anymore.”

The first three episodes of Five Days at Memorial hit Apple TV+ on Aug. 12, 2022. The remaining episodes will be available every Friday following the premiere.