American Hero Lt. General Russel Honoré Sounds Alarm on Disaster Preparedness, Democracy, and the Cost of Broken Systems

From the He’s Not Wrong podcast:

Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina forever altered the Gulf Coast, retired Lt. General Russel Honoré, the plain-spoken commander who turned chaos into coordinated relief, is still on the frontlines. This time he is warning America about broken disaster systems, dangerous funding cuts, and the urgent need to defend democracy.

Honoré shared his concerns in a wide-ranging interview on He's Not Wrong, the fast-rising political and social commentary podcast hosted by Chad DuBois. Launched in March 2025, the show has quickly grown into one of the top 10 percent of podcasts worldwide, reaching more than a quarter-million people each month across platforms.

On the podcast, Honoré revisited his leadership of Joint Task Force Katrina, a moment when decisive action, clear communication, and compassion saved thousands of lives. Dubbed a "John Wayne dude" by then-New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Honoré's presence and humanity brought calm to a city abandoned by failing systems. But he warned the lessons of Katrina are being forgotten. "If we don't mobilize and get off our ass, we could lose our democracy," he said, linking disaster readiness to civic responsibility.

Honoré exposed today's failures with blunt detail. He cited the gutting of one-third of FEMA's workforce, leaving communities less prepared than even a year ago. He condemned the diversion of more than $400 million to what he called "alligator Alcatraz," an immigration detention boondoggle that leaves disaster survivors without shelter and supplies. He blasted the mass firings of NOAA and National Weather Service staff, which are eroding America's ability to predict storms. He pointed to July's deadly Guadalupe River flooding in Texas as evidence of a weakened warning system. Reckless defunding, he said, mirrors Silicon Valley's "break it and see what survives" model. "That's total BS when lives are on the line."

He also challenged the media's role during Katrina, when predominantly Black residents stranded without food or water were labeled as looters for scavenging necessities. "They were in survival mode," Honoré said. "That had to be challenged with the media as well as all levels of government." This reframing remains relevant today, reminding leaders to bring truth, dignity, and humanity to the forefront.

From decades of military service to founding Louisiana's Green Army for environmental justice, Honoré's philosophy has been consistent: clear communication, compassion for people, and urgency in action. His books Survival, Leadership in the New Normal, and Don't Get Stuck on Stupid are not just lessons from the past but roadmaps for the future. "The people who died in Katrina, the majority of them were elderly and disabled. They died home alone," he said, urging every neighborhood to take responsibility for one another before the next disaster.

The episode honors lives lost during Katrina while celebrating the lifesaving work of a man who became the face of resilience. But Honoré's message is not just about remembering. It is a call to act. Preparedness starts at home. Democracy depends on participation. And leadership requires humanity. "America, we must do our own civil defense when it comes to surviving a disaster, and we cannot leave anyone behind. I'm not wrong about that," Honoré declared.As storms grow stronger, infrastructure ages, and trust in institutions wavers, his warning is clear: readiness saves lives, truth matters, and the survival of democracy is on the line.

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