“Remembering Hurricane Katrina,” a short from the music picture “Who’s Gonna Save You,” serves as a poignant reminder of the immense power of nature and the most devastating form of violence: poverty.
“Nature and the spirit of our ancestors are giving you loud warnings… Today you see increasing floods, more damaging hurricanes, hail storms, climate changes and earthquakes as our prophecies said would come…. If we humans do not wake up to the warnings, the great purification will come to destroy this world just as the previous worlds were destroyed.”
Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana on August 29, 2005. The tropical cyclone caused catastrophic damage by breaching levees and flooding New Orleans. The disaster that followed was far from natural, fueled by widespread wealth disparity that led to fatal consequences.
By September 1, 2005, approximately 30,000 individuals sought refuge beneath the compromised roof of the Superdome, while an additional 25,000 had congregated at the convention center. The inhumane conditions, including the scarcity of potable water, sustenance, and sanitation facilities, coupled with the contamination of floodwaters, rapidly rendered the situation untenable.
On October 11, 2005, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers successfully pumped out the remaining floodwaters from the city, 43 days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall. The cataclysmic hurricane and disastrous aftermath resulted in the tragic loss of nearly 1,400 lives and caused over $125 billion in damage (equivalent to more than $200 billion in today’s currency). While many residents returned to ‘Crescent City’, New Orleans’ population experienced a decline of 29% between 2005 and 2011, resulting in a population that remains 20% below its pre-Hurricane Katrina levels.
Despite the overwhelming devastation, a remarkable rescue effort emerged, showcasing the power of humanity and the resilience of individuals and communities.