On Monday, August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina and the floodwaters from the breeched levees destroyed all 14 schools in Louisiana's St. Bernard Parish. Although most residents had been evacuated before the hurricane hit, 1,500 men, women, and children rode out the storm in Chalmette High School. The district superintendent and the school leadership team managed the crisis for five days, rationing water and food and ensuring the residents' safety. In the aftermath of the hurricane, they plunged into the extraordinarily difficult work of rebuilding a community. They brought in modular classrooms, rehired staff, and provided hot meals and after-school support. The efforts and successes of these determined educators provide insights into the complexity of an effective emergency response to a catastrophic event.