This weekend marks the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s devastating attack on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. This is a weekend to remember but definitely not one for celebration.
Katrina is personal to me because I grew up in New Orleans and much of my family still lives there. An artist cousin lost a lifetime of his work to the flood and my sister lost most of her belongings, including a lifetime of family photos. At least her house survived, the house we grew up in, and she was finally able to return to a rehabbed version of the Dad-built structure this year.
Mom wasn’t so lucky. She died shortly after a stressful evacuation from the nursing home where she lived for her last four years. Her health wasn’t very good at the time and she might have died that day even without Katrina, but that doesn’t make us feel any better.
My sister's house after 1st day of cleanup, Oct. 2005
New Orleans is still a broken city. The tourist areas have recovered and those parts of town suffered less damage to begin with. However, many parts of town still look like they did right after the water receded. My sister’s neighborhood is slowly coming back, but vacant lots dot as much as a third of each block; houses that couldn’t be repaired were torn down, a sad but safe alternative to leaving them there in moldy squalor.
And now another hurricane threatens New Orleans.
Same house midway through rehab, Apr. 2007. Note the vacant lots on either side.
Some people wonder why anyone would live in an island-like city that sits three feet below sea level. I often wonder that myself, as I sit here perched on high ground thirteen hundred miles away. But if you grow up there, or spend extended time in the “city that care forgot,” you understand the attraction and comprehend the risk. San Francisco has earthquakes, Nashville has tornadoes, Washington DC has blizzards; no place is totally free from natural disasters.
So this week the cycle begins again: watch the weather forecast, say some prayers, hope that places like New Orleans just get a little rain and wind. And anyone who lives along the Gulf Coast is already packing a “ready kit” and filling up the gas tank.
Louise Mandrell dropped by America's Music today to tell you about her new Christmas Show at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville this November and December.
She also talked about performing with sisters Barbara and Irene in the 1980s and told us how proud she was to perform here in DC last year with the U.S. Army Band.
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PICTURES OF LOUISE CLICK HERE for more info about Louise Mandrell's Joy To The World Christmas Diner and Show.Check back soon to hear the interview again.
Click Here for part 1 Click Here for part 2
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