Hurricane Milton was expected to be almost as bad as Katrina. That’s why the comparison should deter restaurants

This episode is sponsored by Uber Direct.

The devastating power of Hurricane Milton can be compared to the violence unleashed on New Orleans and its iconic restaurants by Hurricane Katrina nearly two decades ago. In fact, the 2005 storm has become the benchmark against which all major hurricanes in subsequent years were measured. And there is no doubt that Milton was one of the main characters.

According to initial estimates, at least six people died in Florida in the storm that swept across the state’s west coast on Wednesday evening. About 3 million households lost power. Media coverage shows first responders wading through chest-high standing water to rescue stranded residents, and many residential areas look as if they have been bulldozed. Seasoned weather reporters are already predicting that some parts of the state, the nation’s third-largest restaurant market, will need weeks or months to get back to anything close to pre-Milton conditions.

Initial reports from government and security officials on the ground indicate that Milton was not as devastating as Katrina, which killed about 1,400 people. However, a full assessment of the damage may not be completed for some time. The same applies in particular to the impact on the catering industry.

The potential is addressed in this week’s episode of Restaurant Rewind, the podcast that looks at the industry’s past to learn more about what’s happening now. Here’s a look at how restaurants fared in the Big Easy, which has become the measure of how damaging a single weather event can be.

It’s not a pretty picture, but it’s a testament to the industry’s determination. New Orleans’ dining scene is bigger and better than ever. Here is the same thing that is happening in Florida.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and enjoy exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Register here.