New Docuseries 'Survival Mode' Spotlights Real Stories of Disaster and Resilience

Survivors of some of America’s most devastating disasters are telling their stories in a raw and unfiltered way through NBC News Studios' new docuseries Survival Mode.

Premiering tonight immediately following American Ninja Warrior, the nine-part series dives into the firsthand accounts of people who found themselves at the center of catastrophic events—from wildfires and tornadoes to massive car pileups and mudslides.

“These are real people, just like you and I, who were thrust into these incredible circumstances,” said executive producer Chris Castle. “Giving them the floor to share their experiences made it really powerful.”

The series includes stories from the deadly 2023 Maui wildfires, the 2018 Montecito mudslides that claimed 23 lives, and the 133-car pileup in Fort Worth, Texas. It also revisits the EF5 tornado that ripped through Joplin, Missouri in 2011, leveling much of the town.

Castle says the goal was to showcase a wide range of disasters, emphasizing not just the destruction, but the resilience of those who survived. “You see the strength of people and the resolve to do whatever it took,” he said.

Survival Mode aims to not only honor those affected by disaster, but to shine a light on the moments of courage and community that emerge in the darkest times.

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