04/20/23

Six Months After Katrina…

Six Months After Katrina……slow Recovery

inNew Orleans

Thomas McGuire, Author, Amsco School Publications

04/20/23

New Orleans is located New Orleans is located within the delta of the within the delta of the Mississippi River.Mississippi River.

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The Big Easy - pre-KatrinaThe Big Easy - pre-Katrina

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New Orleans is known for all kinds of local color…New Orleans is known for all kinds of local color…44

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……including Mardi Gras!including Mardi Gras!

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New Orleans originated on the broad natural levees (the high ground) New Orleans originated on the broad natural levees (the high ground) along the Mississippi River. But the city has expanded into former along the Mississippi River. But the city has expanded into former swamplands drained and now protected by high, man-made levees.swamplands drained and now protected by high, man-made levees.

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Then came Katrina…Then came Katrina…77

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8…a strong category 3 hurricane when it struck New Orleans.

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The break in the The break in the 17th Street Canal17th Street CanalThe next slide The next slide shows the street shows the street on the left after on the left after the water was the water was pumped out.pumped out.

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Flooding hit both poor and middle class neighborhoods, such as Lakeview, Flooding hit both poor and middle class neighborhoods, such as Lakeview, shown here. The levee is behind the homes to the right.shown here. The levee is behind the homes to the right.

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11Satellite images before and during the flood. (Dark blue is water.)Satellite images before and during the flood. (Dark blue is water.)

CityCityParkPark

CityCityParkPark

Astro-Astro-domedome

Astro-Astro-domedome

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Hurricane Hurricane winds made for winds made for tough sailing!tough sailing!

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13Red dots show where Red dots show where

bodies have been found.bodies have been found.

Note the highlighted areas of Lakeview and the Lower 9th Ward.Note the highlighted areas of Lakeview and the Lower 9th Ward. 1313

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The power of the flood water was The power of the flood water was strong enough to move cars and strong enough to move cars and even whole houses. This street has even whole houses. This street has been partially cleared.been partially cleared.

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Rings on buildings show muddy floodwater levels.Rings on buildings show muddy floodwater levels.

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16The latest in city-wide The latest in city-wide architectural style is architectural style is the pervasive FEMA the pervasive FEMA blue tarp roof.blue tarp roof.

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FEMA trailers are found FEMA trailers are found throughout the city even as throughout the city even as thousands of trailers remain thousands of trailers remain undelivered. Water and undelivered. Water and electrical power must be electrical power must be available before a trailer is available before a trailer is delivered and strapped down. delivered and strapped down.

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Even homes that look relatively undamaged have FEMA Even homes that look relatively undamaged have FEMA trailers parked outside. But the real story is inside…trailers parked outside. But the real story is inside…

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……where the walls were soaked with muddy water for weeks.where the walls were soaked with muddy water for weeks.

Once water invades the walls, mold sets in. Once water invades the walls, mold sets in. 1919

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Doors are Doors are marked by marked by FEMA FEMA personnel personnel recording recording the date of the date of inspection inspection and what and what was found.was found.

The “O” The “O” means that means that no bodies no bodies were foundwere foundin this in this home.home.

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Fixing the breaks in the dikes took first Fixing the breaks in the dikes took first priority. Meanwhile officials debate costs priority. Meanwhile officials debate costs and benefits of a better level of protection and benefits of a better level of protection from re-engineered levees.from re-engineered levees.

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22 Katrina and the flooding unleashed it’s greatest wrath in the mostly Katrina and the flooding unleashed it’s greatest wrath in the mostly African-American 9th Ward. (You are looking down a street.)African-American 9th Ward. (You are looking down a street.)

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The force of water is evident. The force of water is evident. Note that this house shows Note that this house shows no water level, as it was no water level, as it was totally submerged.totally submerged.

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Mississippi Mississippi

Mud Mud

settled settled

everywhere.everywhere.

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25 Some people escaped the rising water by Some people escaped the rising water by

making holes in their roofs.making holes in their roofs.

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26Large parts of the lower 9th still look like a war zone, even after six months.Large parts of the lower 9th still look like a war zone, even after six months.

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27Debris is pushed aside to allow junk cars to be hauled out.Debris is pushed aside to allow junk cars to be hauled out.

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Signs like these remind us that these are not just houses but people’s lives, Signs like these remind us that these are not just houses but people’s lives, waiting for the next phase of a long chain of demolition and disappointment.waiting for the next phase of a long chain of demolition and disappointment.

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When patience and hope falter, When patience and hope falter, humor can help…humor can help… 2929

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..when fact imitates fiction...when fact imitates fiction. 3030

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But, for New Orleans, as the Terminator said,But, for New Orleans, as the Terminator said, “I’ll be back!”“I’ll be back!”3131

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Credits:Credits:

Thomas McGuire is the author of several of Amsco’s Earth science books including his 2005 textbook “Earth Science; The Physical Setting.” www.amscopub.com

Special thanks to Dr. James H. McGuire of Tulane University and his wife. They sold the brick house, shown in slides 18-20, just two months before Katrina. They now own a townhouse well above sea level on the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain. The new owners were waiting for their insurance settlement.

The aerial and satellite image, one taken during the storm as well as maps are not original. Other images are by the author.

Author’s images taken at the time of Mardi Gras, Feb 2006

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Thomas McGuire is a New York textbook, Thomas McGuire is a New York textbook,

review book & lab book author review book & lab book author

with Amsco School Publications with Amsco School Publications

of New York, NY.of New York, NY.

www.amscopub.com

Tom’s email:Tom’s email:

cavecreekdigital@msn.com

Other PowerPoints are available from the same author:Other PowerPoints are available from the same author:

The Grand Canyon from the Bottom UpThe Grand Canyon from the Bottom Up

Utah Slots (Slot canyons of the Colorado Plateau)Utah Slots (Slot canyons of the Colorado Plateau)

Cool Imposters (Pseudo-Glacial landforms)Cool Imposters (Pseudo-Glacial landforms)

Glacial Legacies of New York StateGlacial Legacies of New York State

Transforming California (The San Andreas Fault)Transforming California (The San Andreas Fault)