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Flood of Lies: The St. Rita's Nursing Home Tragedy
In August 2005, the world looked on in horror as thirty-five residents of St. Rita’s Nursing Home perished beneath the rising waters of Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana’s attorney general immediately targeted the owners of St. Rita’s, Sal and Mabel Mangano, for prosecution. A national media frenzy erupted, labeling the couple as selfish, cold-hearted killers, willing to let beloved parents and grandparents drown—but the reality was much different. Flood of Lies tells the real story of the Manganos: a couple who sacrificed everything to save the lives of their beloved residents.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2013
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841 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 29, 2015
Great, fast-paced read. I couldn't put it down. I think the author (and lawyer for the Manganos) did a good job of showcasing all sides of this case, from the defense, the prosecution, and the families of the victims. Having worked in nursing homes for the past 19 years, I certainly had my opinions throughout the book, and while I don't agree with the decision that the Manganos made (to shelter in place), I also wasn't in their shoes. I definitely believe that they had enough of an opportunity to evacuate most, if not all of their residents and in turn, avoiding this whole tragedy. As a social worker in a skilled nursing facility, I would have liked to hear more about what conversations were had with the residents' families in regards to evacuating vs. not, and whether or not more residents could have been taken by families that were evacuating to other areas. I would highly recommend this book. It was fascinating.
July 13, 2024
As someone who has worked in nursing homes for twenty years now I vaguely remember this story. It happened toward the beginning of my career and given the chaos of Katrina it was kind of lost to me at the time. But I was curious. As the author mentions the news made it sound like they heard a huge hurricane was coming and we're like see ya to their residents and left before the storm hit which they didn't. Given that about 99% of my colleagues and I think of our residents as our own family I couldn't imagine what happened here. Like Five Days at Memorial and Charity there are nuances to these things given the absolute nightmare that unfolded in the days after Katrina. So I dove in ready to read the supposed real story of what happened at St. Rita's nursing home. It started off strong then petered out. I was expecting a narrative similar to Five Days at Memorial where we get a blow by blow account as it happened told through the eyes of those who lived it. The staff, residents, families and get a balanced account as everyone sees the same thing differently. This book was incredibly biased and my first red flag was the fact that neither Mangano knew if there was a mandatory evacuation order or their emergency plans off hand. Really? Every home I've worked in all the staff complete annual training on every kind of emergency, fire, flood, toxic spill, damage to the building etc. Managers go over it with staff especially if we know there's something about to go down like a massive blizzard or a heat wave. It seems odd the owners and administrators didn't seem to have that on hand when the lawyer talked to them. But again Katrina was a nightmare so I can give them a pass on the mandatory order at least. No one knew what was going on it would seem. But this book fails for me because instead of focusing on the tragedy, looking at what happened from all angles and even talking about those who died, they were frustratingly just 35 old people in wheelchairs, no names no stories to tell, just old people, this book is more about the author. He was poor and running up credit card debt, his son was deeply depressed and became friends with Diane Sawyer, he liked margaritas. I really don't care about you. I'm sorry you went through all that but I want to know about St. Rita's and what went down there and instead of using language to make me feel bad for the Manganos, calling them elderly, describing all their family members, who are so kind and generous and even live close to the home. Other perspectives are slapped down as lies and people who are angry with grief or have agendas. Granted the AG probably did have an agenda but the families and staff have a right to be angry. I might've been angry with management in a situation like this too and I know I'd have been pissed if my parent or grandparent had died here too. There is even a review on Amazon by a family member who had some interesting things to say whether true or not I can't say. But the other side is horribly missing and the unfortunate souls who lost their lives are also absent here. I'm still glad I read it as I got to see another side to this story but I'm not sure the Manganos are quite as innocent as they seem in this. They weren't as guilty as the press made them seem and I do agree that the governments horrific response and the poorly built levees were what really caused the disaster but I needed more about what went on there in order to form an opinion. Do I think they deliberated set out to kill those people? No. Do I think they could've done more to prevent this? Yes I'm sure they could, but like everything Katrina there are nuances to things shades of grey and this book is simply too black and white.
November 7, 2013
A friend recommended this book at our book club. I groaned at the idea of reading yet another Katrina story. Surprisingly this story was nothing like I expected. The first half of the book was somewhat difficult for me to read since it brought back memories of the flood. Midway I was so interested and vested in the story. I couldn't put the book down. James Cobb did an excellent job of keeping my attention and taking me on an emotional roller coaster ride. There is sadness, a bit of humor and a lot of excitement in this story. I wanted to know all about the Cobb family, the Mangano family and the court case.
September 18, 2013
Full disclosure, I read this book because I have had the experience of meeting the author and have had several drinks with him. The first and only crawfish boil I have ever been to occurred at his home. He is profane, charismatic, probably the greatest ball buster I have ever meet, and a fierce friend. So, take this review with a grain of salt.
I have always enjoyed court room dramas and this story rates with some of the best I have ever read. After hurricane Katrina, I vaguely recall hearing a blurb or two about this trial, but I did not follow it closely. My father-in-law went to law school with the author and remains friends with him to this day, so after the trial I again heard about what happened but in very limited detail. To finally read the whole story and get all of the facts has been shocking, depressing, humorous, enraging, and a whole slew of other emotions in between. I feel like I could ramble on about this book for days, so I will try to come back into focus and on point...
What I love about courtroom dramas is that I get a little glimpse into the fascinating world of trial law. Most of what attorneys do on a day to day basis would be mind numbingly boring. But preparing for and making an argument in court; fighting to protect someone else's rights; fighting injustice... That is the stuff that makes To Kill a Mockingbird great and the same can be said about this book. I think what makes this book so powerful is that it is all true. So, if you appreciate legal stories, colorful characters, and if you don't (or even if you do) know much about what happened in New Orleans during hurricane Katrina then read this book. It will not disappoint!
I have always enjoyed court room dramas and this story rates with some of the best I have ever read. After hurricane Katrina, I vaguely recall hearing a blurb or two about this trial, but I did not follow it closely. My father-in-law went to law school with the author and remains friends with him to this day, so after the trial I again heard about what happened but in very limited detail. To finally read the whole story and get all of the facts has been shocking, depressing, humorous, enraging, and a whole slew of other emotions in between. I feel like I could ramble on about this book for days, so I will try to come back into focus and on point...
What I love about courtroom dramas is that I get a little glimpse into the fascinating world of trial law. Most of what attorneys do on a day to day basis would be mind numbingly boring. But preparing for and making an argument in court; fighting to protect someone else's rights; fighting injustice... That is the stuff that makes To Kill a Mockingbird great and the same can be said about this book. I think what makes this book so powerful is that it is all true. So, if you appreciate legal stories, colorful characters, and if you don't (or even if you do) know much about what happened in New Orleans during hurricane Katrina then read this book. It will not disappoint!
December 8, 2025
this is basically a documentary on Hurricane Katrina and the nursing home where 35 residents died because they didn't evacuate. Very well done and lots of legal drama.
May 2, 2023
This book was recommended to me by a teacher who uses it in a True Crime course. The back of the book blurbs were interesting, but I was unprepared for how gripping the story would be. I gasped at several points.
It's a personal and political drama. I enjoyed Cobb's, the defense lawyer and author, candor about the challenges he and his family faced after Katrina. His children were 11 and 13 when the storm uprooted their and thousands of other's lives. It had a crucial impact on his ability to do his job. "If you didn't get wet, you don't get it," the saying goes. Cobb definitely got it.
I didn't know how it was going to end, and it took effort not to look it up. At some points, I was sure that the prosecution, representing the State of Louisiana, would squash the "little guys," the nursing home owners and operators. At others, I was confident Sal and Mabel Mangano would defeat the political powers that be. I went back and forth until the verdict was revealed. Cobb writes fairly and honestly, something the media didn't afford to the Mangano's.
I absolutely recommend this book. I'm surprised there are not more reviews on here. I read it in two days.
It's a personal and political drama. I enjoyed Cobb's, the defense lawyer and author, candor about the challenges he and his family faced after Katrina. His children were 11 and 13 when the storm uprooted their and thousands of other's lives. It had a crucial impact on his ability to do his job. "If you didn't get wet, you don't get it," the saying goes. Cobb definitely got it.
I didn't know how it was going to end, and it took effort not to look it up. At some points, I was sure that the prosecution, representing the State of Louisiana, would squash the "little guys," the nursing home owners and operators. At others, I was confident Sal and Mabel Mangano would defeat the political powers that be. I went back and forth until the verdict was revealed. Cobb writes fairly and honestly, something the media didn't afford to the Mangano's.
I absolutely recommend this book. I'm surprised there are not more reviews on here. I read it in two days.
November 2, 2025
The book tells us the history, story, and who was to blame in the St. Rita's nursing home tragedy. This tragedy occurred during Hurricane Katrina. I liked learning about this story. I thought it was very interesting. The only thing I didn't like about the book was how long it was; I felt it dragged on at times. The main motif of the book was to try and find justice for the victims of this tragedy, to find out who was to blame. I would not read this book again, but I would recommend it to others to read.
April 13, 2015
a really good legal thriller, but non-fiction. Puts human faces on the people who died in a flooded nursing home that did not evacuate before hurricane Katrina as well as the owners and staff who prepared for the storm. The main tension is the fight between politically motivated prosecutors and a lawyer convinced that his clients should not be the only scapegoats brought to trial for all the deaths in Katrina.
September 28, 2013
Excellent book. I could not put it down. It is realistic and entertaining. Jim Cobb has a smooth and breezy style and his humor and wit shines thru.Litigators will particularly bond with this book and it will give you a feeling for the toll it takes on all attorneys to properly prepare and try a big case..
August 3, 2019
I enjoyed the legal drama of this memoir, getting a behind-the-scenes account of this horrible trial. I felt like it could've been shorter though and sometimes got a little annoyed with the author's pomposity.
September 17, 2017
For some reason I didn't recall this tragedy within the tragedy of Katrina. Then there was the tragedy of the Nursing Home owners being charged with hundreds of counts of manslaughter due to flooding at St. Rita's Nursing Home. The book, written by the Mangano's attorney is very well written and is as tense of a read as any non fiction book could be. Did the Mangano's do everything right? No. Once their facility flooded due to the levy breaches, they did everything they could do under the circumstances. All in all, this book is about the government and the news media coming to snap judgments and convicting the Mangano's before they ever stepped into court. If you enjoy a great courtroom drama and one that encompasses how political and media overreach work in real life, I highly recommend this. Just this week, with Hurricane Irma another tragic loss of life at a Nursing Home happened in Hollywood Florida. I will be following that investigation as it unfolds. Hoping it unfolds fairly.
September 12, 2019
As a resident of the New Orleans area for approximately 25 years and as a (nonpracticing) attorney, every word of this book rang true. The descriptions of post-Katrina St. Bernard Parish were absolutely authentic. If you don't live in this area, the depiction of the political situation may seem over-the-top, but believe me, it is accurate. It was fascinating to read about the legal maneuverings in this case. The author was surprisingly fair to the other side, I thought, acknowledging that the prosecution was genuinely outraged by the deaths of the patients of St. Rita's Nursing Home (as was the author, but he thought the blame lay elsewhere than on the shoulders of his clients, the also-elderly nursing home owners). You want to cheer every time his side has a victory and feel devastated every time the case turns against them. I would recommend this book to everyone who wants to understand what Katrina and its aftermath were really like.
January 27, 2025
This story could have been amazing, it could have given insight into what happened, who the lost residents where their lives and how something like this could happen.
However that's not what this story it. This story is mostly about the author and himself. He wrote a book about himself and disguised it with the idea that it was about the St. RITA NURSING HOME. The 35 patients that died remained just that, "the 35 patients that died at St. Ritas". He never speaks to who they are, or any detail about them.
This story was lacking and I gained more insight into this tragedy by researching it myself for 10 minutes.
Needless to say I was disappointed, I didn't want to read about Mr. Cobb I wanted to read about St. Rita's.
However that's not what this story it. This story is mostly about the author and himself. He wrote a book about himself and disguised it with the idea that it was about the St. RITA NURSING HOME. The 35 patients that died remained just that, "the 35 patients that died at St. Ritas". He never speaks to who they are, or any detail about them.
This story was lacking and I gained more insight into this tragedy by researching it myself for 10 minutes.
Needless to say I was disappointed, I didn't want to read about Mr. Cobb I wanted to read about St. Rita's.
August 15, 2023
I’m a licensed nursing home administrator for almost 12 years, this book has been on my list for quite some time. I was in high school when Katrina hit Louisiana and then in college when the trial began. I remember professors bringing this trial into some of our classes as a learning opportunity however the magnitude of this case resonates very differently as a student vs. an actual licensed administrator. Very well written, and as an administrator, I was able to vividly live through the eyes of the Manganos and James Cobb in many ways. I highly recommend this book to anyone who works in the LTC industry.
November 3, 2018
I grew up in Plaquemines Parish, on the opposite side of the Mississippi River. I've experienced many storms along the Gulf Coast, and I try to read any books pertaining to them.
This was one of the saddest, tragic books I've ever read about hurricanes. One Dead in Attic is the only book that I've found more emotionally draining.
I had already formed an opinion based on my personal knowledge and experiences during hurricanes.
I'll let other readers reach their own conclusions, but I tend to agree with most of what the author writes.
This was one of the saddest, tragic books I've ever read about hurricanes. One Dead in Attic is the only book that I've found more emotionally draining.
I had already formed an opinion based on my personal knowledge and experiences during hurricanes.
I'll let other readers reach their own conclusions, but I tend to agree with most of what the author writes.
September 13, 2017
It was an entertaining and informative read. It was well written. The pacing was good. I also learned a lot about criminal procedure in Louisiana. I liked the fact that the author acknowledged what mistakes he believed he made along the way. It was not just a litany of successes. He explains how he thought he would win a particular motion - and then he'd lose.
March 5, 2019
Well written and easy to follow, Cobb will bring you into the story and keep you in with his mix of humor, truth and sadness.
A story that needed to be told so we could see all perspectives. You will feel “in touch” with the characters and will stay on the edge of your seat to the very end.
A story that needed to be told so we could see all perspectives. You will feel “in touch” with the characters and will stay on the edge of your seat to the very end.
December 7, 2024
excellent
Excellent telling of truly tragic circumstances. It is very well-written, and the author, while supremely confident, is also charmingly honest about his perceived limitations. I highly recommend this book, especially if you’ve plunged into the rabbit hole that is Hurricane Katrina (as I have recently).
Excellent telling of truly tragic circumstances. It is very well-written, and the author, while supremely confident, is also charmingly honest about his perceived limitations. I highly recommend this book, especially if you’ve plunged into the rabbit hole that is Hurricane Katrina (as I have recently).
August 26, 2018
Started reading this awhile back, finally finished it. I think I've gained a new appreciation for it after getting licensed in LA and living there for a couple of years. The book is really atmospheric. I probably won't do a full review of this, but I did enjoy it.
August 14, 2023
I was also one who heard of this disaster in the news after hurricane Katrina, and sadly I believed what was said. After reading this book I now know the owners done all they could and tried very hard to save those inside. A great read
January 3, 2024
Amazing Read
This was by far one of the best documentary type books I’ve ever read. Mr. Cobb does an excellent job describing for us exactly what happened in an easy to understand way, even for someone who wants there.
This was by far one of the best documentary type books I’ve ever read. Mr. Cobb does an excellent job describing for us exactly what happened in an easy to understand way, even for someone who wants there.
May 19, 2018
Had to read this book for an analytical book review and honestly it was really good! So interesting, and I want to read others like it.
August 14, 2018
If you’re even remotely interested in what happened post Hurricane Katrina, this is a must read book.
June 26, 2019
Excellent true story of one of the many tragedies of Katrina in New Orleans.
October 19, 2020
Was familiar with this tragedy, but didn’t remember the ending. Following the case through the attorney’s eyes kept me on the edge of my chair.
July 6, 2022
Absolutely loved this book! It should be made into a movie!
June 22, 2025
this is one effing fantastic book. this is, I'm pretty sure, the second time I've ever given five stars to a book. this is an effing fan.tas.tic book. and you should read it.
September 22, 2025
Compelling case-----excellent book.
June 23, 2014
It was 5:45 in the morning when Katrina took out the lights here just north of New Orleans. Eighteen days later, the lights came on at 5:45 PM; cable returned quite a while later. I mention this because we had no visuals of what was happening in our city, along our Gulf, in other parishes. All we had was the radio filled with voices aching with fright, choking in the wrenching horror. It would be a while before we truly understood how leveled so many had been. Here in the country, we cleared our dirt roads, cleaned up debris, fed each other, connected generators to our wells, and dodged voracious mosquitoes. And such is the way of death and life, cuddled the two day old newborn son of a neighbor.
I am mentioning this because this author was one of those in the Lakeview section of New Orleans. The author, as did his neighbors, left before the levees broke and the water devoured his home as it did the others in that section of the city with its beautiful tree lined streets, it both quaint and grand homes. It is hard to comprehend everything ruined, but that includes the photos of your kids growing up. That most precious loss brings it home. Having passed time post-Katrina on my front porch with a lifetime friend who also lost his home in Lakeview; having gone through the photos he had taken of the slime buried remains of his home with him, I can truly appreciate the will power Mr. Cobb exhibited to stand by the Mangano family in the aftermath of the tragedy of St. Rita's Nursing Home.
To think clearly, to do one's job as a defense lawyer living in a motel far from home, with your home rotting, filled with water to almost the roof; filled with mildew and things we would all rather not think about, took courage and I have to commend Jim Cobb that he took on such a difficult case which separated him from his family; which bred exhaustion; which cleared legal barriers of monumental intricacy.
Flood of Lies is the story of the perishing of elderly patients in St. Rita's Nursing home. Never before had water breached this facility; never before did elderly patients die drowning, floating about amidst the detritus of their previous care by the Mangano family who lived with their own extended family at and about the facility; the Mangano family who risked life and limb to save as many as they could.
But Mr. Cobb brings us more than just the terrible tale of what transpired at St. Rita's. He brings you an incredible word picture of how the law really works. He paints portraits of the key players of the prosecution and media who did everything possible “legally” to prosecute these “Monsters of Hurricane Katrina”.
So many questions arise in this type of tragedy. Who was responsible for, and was there, an order for forced evacuation? If there was such an order, was it implemented? How many other nursing homes evacuated; how many others lost the lives of patients in this catastrophic storm? If, and you must understand there was mixed reporting as to whether we would face this storm head on, if the hurricane was to be so horrific and families of the patients of St. Rita's evacuated, why did they not stop and take their loved ones with them to a safer place?
Mr. Cobb explains in detail what evidence was allowed, what evidence was not allowed. He takes the reader through the planning of the defense; through the search for and questioning of witnesses; through the protection of the legal rights of said witnesses; through the jury and venue selection.
Flood of Lies is so much more than the story of Katrina and St. Rita's. It is about those in office trying to protect themselves; it is about political aspirations; it is about duplicity; it is about the legal process. Coming raw to this book as to understanding the verities of the legal process, the readers will have gone through a course in Law 101 and beyond. Flood of Lies is an eye opener, a stomach tightener, a view of what we so take for granted without understanding. Flood of Lies is a real look into how today's main media looks to make headlines regardless of how yellow and vindictive the “journalism” goes.
Flood of Lies is the story of how the Mangano family struggles through all this; how the Cobb family finds the strength despite their own losses to support Jim.
Flood of Lies is the story of how strong, how cruel, how vindictive, how supporting people can be; of how they handle loss; of how the accept or reject responsibility; of how they handle themselves so they can, or sadly cannot, look themselves straight in the eye in the soul's mirror in the aftermath.
Well handled, Mr. Cobb; engagingly written; an eye opener not to be missed.
I am mentioning this because this author was one of those in the Lakeview section of New Orleans. The author, as did his neighbors, left before the levees broke and the water devoured his home as it did the others in that section of the city with its beautiful tree lined streets, it both quaint and grand homes. It is hard to comprehend everything ruined, but that includes the photos of your kids growing up. That most precious loss brings it home. Having passed time post-Katrina on my front porch with a lifetime friend who also lost his home in Lakeview; having gone through the photos he had taken of the slime buried remains of his home with him, I can truly appreciate the will power Mr. Cobb exhibited to stand by the Mangano family in the aftermath of the tragedy of St. Rita's Nursing Home.
To think clearly, to do one's job as a defense lawyer living in a motel far from home, with your home rotting, filled with water to almost the roof; filled with mildew and things we would all rather not think about, took courage and I have to commend Jim Cobb that he took on such a difficult case which separated him from his family; which bred exhaustion; which cleared legal barriers of monumental intricacy.
Flood of Lies is the story of the perishing of elderly patients in St. Rita's Nursing home. Never before had water breached this facility; never before did elderly patients die drowning, floating about amidst the detritus of their previous care by the Mangano family who lived with their own extended family at and about the facility; the Mangano family who risked life and limb to save as many as they could.
But Mr. Cobb brings us more than just the terrible tale of what transpired at St. Rita's. He brings you an incredible word picture of how the law really works. He paints portraits of the key players of the prosecution and media who did everything possible “legally” to prosecute these “Monsters of Hurricane Katrina”.
So many questions arise in this type of tragedy. Who was responsible for, and was there, an order for forced evacuation? If there was such an order, was it implemented? How many other nursing homes evacuated; how many others lost the lives of patients in this catastrophic storm? If, and you must understand there was mixed reporting as to whether we would face this storm head on, if the hurricane was to be so horrific and families of the patients of St. Rita's evacuated, why did they not stop and take their loved ones with them to a safer place?
Mr. Cobb explains in detail what evidence was allowed, what evidence was not allowed. He takes the reader through the planning of the defense; through the search for and questioning of witnesses; through the protection of the legal rights of said witnesses; through the jury and venue selection.
Flood of Lies is so much more than the story of Katrina and St. Rita's. It is about those in office trying to protect themselves; it is about political aspirations; it is about duplicity; it is about the legal process. Coming raw to this book as to understanding the verities of the legal process, the readers will have gone through a course in Law 101 and beyond. Flood of Lies is an eye opener, a stomach tightener, a view of what we so take for granted without understanding. Flood of Lies is a real look into how today's main media looks to make headlines regardless of how yellow and vindictive the “journalism” goes.
Flood of Lies is the story of how the Mangano family struggles through all this; how the Cobb family finds the strength despite their own losses to support Jim.
Flood of Lies is the story of how strong, how cruel, how vindictive, how supporting people can be; of how they handle loss; of how the accept or reject responsibility; of how they handle themselves so they can, or sadly cannot, look themselves straight in the eye in the soul's mirror in the aftermath.
Well handled, Mr. Cobb; engagingly written; an eye opener not to be missed.
February 25, 2014
I was completely blindsided by this book. I'm originally from New Orleans but 23 years ago I moved just outside of N. O., and I did evacuate for Hurricane Katrina. I sat glued to the hotel television for days as all the events occurred, and while both of my brothers lost their homes and possessions to the flood in New Orleans. Then I stayed at a friends house in Baton Rouge, where I also sat glued to the television, until I could safely go back to my damaged but livable home, where I began the work of cleanup and repairs. I remember the media storm about St. Rita's and the Manganos. What I don't remember hearing about was what really happened and the results of the trial two years later. It seems the local media skipped that part, having been more interested in condemning this couple before knowing the facts. I love that this book was written by the lawyer for the defense, who also told much of his own personal tragedy in New Orleans. My brothers, their families and my parents evacuated to Houston, so I not only had the unique perspective of the Houston experience (though by proxy), but also the Baton Rouge experience (first hand). As a result, I was immersed in this book from the first few pages. I applaud the author for having the guts to take the case, and for having the guts to write this book. And I learned a lot about the treachery that is entrenched in the federal and state government. Bravo!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews