LAFAYETTE PARISH — As the nation prepares to mark 20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, one Acadiana first responder is looking back on the mission that left a lasting impact on his life—and the lives he helped save.

Marc Creswell, director of Acadian AirMed Services, sat down with KATC via Zoom to reflect on his experiences rescuing flood victims in the days following Katrina’s landfall.

“First responders don’t die of one scar,” Creswell said. “They die of a thousand scars. And this one sure left some scars on people.”

Aug. 29, 2005—a date etched in the soul of the state—remains vivid for Creswell and countless others across Louisiana.

“It was tough,” he said. “You saw a lot—a lot of people suffering.”

When Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, Creswe

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