Forrest saves thousands of people in New Orleans during the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster. He is already in New Orleans at the time due to his respinsibilites with Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Before things start getting bad, he runs around the city telling people to get out of there. People recognize him from his fame from Bubba Gump and his running across the country, and begin following him. He even uses Bubba Gump boats docked in New Orleans to ferry some people out of there.

After the storm, he is praised as a hero for saving thousands of lives. When asked why he did it, he simply replies "Because Momma always told me to get up high when the water comes."