20 years after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the strength of locally owned businesses is as evident as ever. We asked a few who were featured in the 2008 film Rising from Ruins, directed by Hanson Hosein and produced by Tom Powers, to reflect on their staying power. Watch excerpts from the original film here.

Angelo brocato Ice cream

Arthur Brocato

"It was a hard road getting things back together, and it took a lot of energy. It has been worth it. While it is a time we never want to revisit, over our 120 year history, we’ve had a lot of challenges, from yellow fever to WWI to WWII to the Great Depression. This was the challenge for our generation, one we tried to meet head on. It knocked us down, but it didn't knock us out."

Laurel street bakery

Hillary Guttman

“After any sort of interruption, I’m trying to reopen as soon as I can, both for my employees and to serve our city. In the midst of the anxiety and chaos of a forced closure, I try to take a calm and deliberate approach to reopening, because if we aren’t open, or planning toward it, I may go stir crazy.  

It is especially important to me during such times that people have good food and good coffee! Eating for convenience during stressful times can make a difficult situation more miserable, and I can help prevent that with a handful of simple recipes we can make by hand.  I have hurricane-proofed the kitchen to a degree, by making sure the ovens will light without power, we can serve pour over coffee with boiled water, and I know which recipes can be made quickly, by hand, with just a few ingredients so that I can have something out and available for the community.  These strategies have allowed me to reopen quickly after each closure, and provide simple things that folks depend on.

I’ve learned some lessons over the decades: I now have much better insurance, for one!  I know what I can and cannot do without electricity. I have a great staff that is ready to clean up and return to work sometimes even before I am. One thing is certain--if you can’t work around it, you’re not gonna make it in this city.”

Zuppardo’s Family market

Roy Zuppardo

“Sometimes it takes a major disaster for us to realize the personal strength we hold inside. It also awakens us to the importance of community and helping each other during those times.

Twenty years after Katrina, Zuppardo’s Family Market is not only thriving but is setting standards of quality and service industry wide. After nearly a century of serving the community, we’ve learned important lessons from disasters like Katrina.

It has made our little, local, independent location one that has recently been recognized by our peers as top independent grocery store in the Southeastern United States in 2024 and again in 2025, when Zuppardo’s was recognized at the National Association of Retail Grocers Convention as well as by the industry’s Shelby Report for its community involvement through educational and feeding programs.

The lessons learned from not only Katrina but from so many other storms, floods, and disasters have taught us how to swiftly change gears and secure the necessary products before the storm arrives to meet the needs of the community.

Being local means being more agile than your national chain competitors who need corporate approval before reacting. It takes a lot to get a whole big train moving. But a little car can maneuver through the ‘traffic’ much easier. That’s the beauty of being local. Being LOCAL makes a difference, A BIG DIFFERENCE!”