New Orleans Remembers On 13th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

US Army loadmaster sits at the open back of a search and rescue chinook helicopter, while flying over a flooded New Orleans. (Photo by David Howells/Corbis via Getty Images)

New Orleans Remembers On 13th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

The 13th anniversary of Katrina's landfall caused New Orleans to reflect.

by Alex Galbraith | August 29, 2018

Hurricane Katrina made landfall 13 years ago today, setting in motion a series of catastrophic infrastructure failures that would leave entire neighborhoods underwater and hundreds of thousands of New Orleanians unable to return. The flooding changed the city forever, leaving every resident with a life-long memory of where they were and how it felt.

Come the anniversary, plenty of locals felt the need to collectively remember what August 29, 2005 was like for them.

13 years ago Katrina and levee breach in New Orleans devastated Gulf Coast.A week later me and cinematographer Bradford Young went to cover what happened. What we saw down there is seared in my mind. The government not only left people to die they also lied about how many did die

— Rosa A. Clemente (@rosaclemente) August 29, 2018

On this 13th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, a view of the front parking lot at The Times-Picayune, as David Meeks (left), Mike Montalbano (center) & myself canoe into the office for supplies. (Note: We are NOT rowing in opposite directions. Camera caught me turning to steer.) pic.twitter.com/wPPMG45TjN

— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) August 29, 2018

Former mayor Mitch Landrieu took the time to reflect.

13 yrs. ago, Katrina made landfall and the federal levees failed, changing our region forever. Today, let's remember to honor all the souls that perished and also reflect on how far we’ve come together. https://t.co/wrYF50cZKZ

— Mitch Landrieu (@MitchLandrieu) August 29, 2018

Dear Katrina (and associated villains), you took things from me. You took people from others. You didn’t take New Orleans. You didn’t take us. You didn’t take today. So I’m living today like there’s no tomorrow, with family and friends. Be good y’all.

— Duris Holmes (@duris) August 29, 2018

This morning, I cannot help but to remember the lives lost and to pray for those that were forever changed 13 years ago. The scars are still very visible everywhere, reminding us of #Katrina’s deep and painful cuts, but also of our perseverance.

God bless you, Gulf South.

— 🔝 (@jimcoll) August 29, 2018

Early morning August 29, 2005, Hurricane #Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. Today, 13 years later, as much as we’d like to forget, we remember. That we made it.
Give thanks for life. God bless #NewOrleans. God bless my city. God bless my people. #WeMadeIt. Give thanks for life. pic.twitter.com/QCcacsvmny

— Yaba Blay (@YabaBlay) August 29, 2018

13 yrs ago. What I didn't know was how horrible the after affects would be. They stole our schools, denied many of us to even return, shut down our public hospital, and no access to mental healthcare. It was a shitshow & I came back whether they wanted me too or not. #Katrina

— Fifolet 🐊 (@bcreative10) August 29, 2018

13 years ago Katrina destroyed my home in #Lakeview. Everything was gone. It was devastating. Still #Katrina taught me how to work through tough times and rebuild. @wdsu pic.twitter.com/HjErVSlKJc

— AUBRY KILLION (@AubryKWDSU) August 29, 2018

13 years ago.. this was my home in Kenner, La after #katrina. Even though we only got ~2ft of water, the whole house was engulfed in black mold by the time we were allowed back into the city. My dad had just finished remoldeding the house as well. pic.twitter.com/29eJxkTlo8

— Collin Landry (@CollinLandry_Wx) August 29, 2018

Famed NOLA photographer David Mora shared a photo of the sun rising over the city, still going strong 13 years after it was nearly lost.

This morning. #13yearslater #katrina #neworleans pic.twitter.com/gLKZLy5OZN

— David Nola (@DavidMora) August 29, 2018

This is the letter I left in our home Sunday afternoon 13 years ago before Katrina hit. We had damage, but our home was still standing. @wdsu #Katrina #nola pic.twitter.com/RY9grdd9ZZ

— Margaret Orr (@MargaretOrr) August 29, 2018

Mayor LaToya Cantrell and other New Orleans officials took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Katrina Memorial.

https://www.facebook.com/wdsutv/videos/429073054165397/

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Alex Galbraith

He has a distinct voice that you will come to know more as you follow VL NOLA. He has shown himself to be an intrepid entertainment and culture writer, who always knows about the best events, happenings and performers before anybody else. Now, he’s going to tell you all about them here at Very Local NOLA.