Coast Guardsman during Hurricane Katrina recounts his experience 20 years later

NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Coast Guard saved more than 30,000 lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. One Guardsman, the father of WBRZ Chief Photographer Charles Jones, recounted his experience nearly 20 years after one of the worst natural disasters to ever hit the Gulf Coast.

Heath Jones recently retired from a 30-year career in the Coast Guard as the 14th Master Chief Petty Officer, the highest-ranked enlisted member in the service. He was born in Baton Rouge and grew up in Covington.

When Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29, 2005, Jones was the Executive Petty Officer at USCG Station Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Va. His team was mobilized overnight and sent to New Orleans the next day to man rescue efforts.

"Because I was from New Orleans and knew the area and had been stationed t