What was Lost and What was Gained Culturally

When hurricane Katrina hit, a life time of culture was swept away with it. Restaurants, shops, schools, and churches gone before the very eyes of the people of New Orleans. Artists, chefs, musicians, and so many more contribute to the culture of Louisiana.

When returning to their homes after Katrina, many found only remains of their beloved homes and items such as precious photographs, Mardi Gras costumes, and musical instruments. Despite the loss, the people of New Orleans returned to maintain their culture.

Downtown flooding

When it came to rebuilding, People of NOLA were aggressive in restoring tradition. Today the city has been restored, but not to what it once was. Some places were gone forever, while others took on new locations of the city and were put back on the map. Some of the institutions that survived Hurricane Katrina became collateral damage in the after math of the storm.

Camellia Grill reopened after Katrina

A Jazz Band on Bourbon Street 

Festivals such as Mardi Gras continued to be celebrated just six months after Katrina hit. The celebration had decreased in size but was still said to be lively as ever. Some say that Mardi Gras 2006, was exactly what the “Big Easy” needed and was a much-needed celebration after all the catastrophes the city went through.

Michael White stated "The most valuable things I had before Katrina were never lost: Jazz, the musicians, and the strength and wisdom that comes with thirty years of a jazz life. These things will always be with me and forever enrich my soul."

Taken at the Presbytere Museum- This music collection of rock 'n' roll belonged to Gabriel Puccio. It was damaged by floodwater in his home. It is one of the many collections destroyed that day. 

                                                               Abigail Hamilton



                                                                   Work Cited
Times-Picayune, Frank Donze The. “Hurricane Katrina swept away some of New Orleans' cultural touchstones.” NOLA.com, 29 Aug. 2010, www.nola.com/katrina/index.ssf/2010/08/hurricane_katrina_swept_away_s_1.html.

 Aggour, Sara. “New Orleans: The Culture of Resilient Music Arises After Katrina.” Progrss, 27 Feb. 2017, progrss.com/culture/20170215/new-orleans-resilient-music-culture/.