Remembering Hurricane Katrina

The Northshore city of Slidell east of New Orleans will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the hurricane honoring the losses from the storm and celebrating its rebirth.

Slidell after Hurricane Katrina, 2005. Copyright Kim Bergeron

It’s been almost 20 years since Hurricane Katrina roared through Slidell, the Louisiana city east of New Orleans and in the line of sight where the storm made landfall. The hurricane brought winds in excess of 160 miles per hour and numerous tornadoes. After hours of torrential rain and wind, residents breathed a sigh of relief when it seemed like the storm had finally passed. That reprieve was short-lived when the calm after the storm was shattered by a 20-foot storm surge that left more than 40 percent of the city submerged, with flooding in some areas exceeding 10 feet. More than 95 percent of homes and businesses sustained damage. Some were completely obliterated. Virtually overnight, Slidellians discovered the harsh new reality of post-disaster life.

Now, two decades later, relentless resilience and commitments to recovery have paved the way to the rebirth of the tattered city. To commemorate the milestone anniversary of the storm that hit the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005, the Krewe of Black & Gold, a local non-profit organization, has partnered with the City of Slidell and Northshore Cultural Economy Coalition to present “The Spirit of Louisiana Katrina 20th Commemoration.”

The three-part event will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium with a ceremony that acknowledges the losses of its citizens plus the efforts of recovery workers and volunteers who contributed to rebuilding the city. Featured speakers will include Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert and former Mayor Ben O. Morris, St. Tammany Parish President Michael Cooper and past-President Kevin Davis.

The Storyville Stompers

At 5 p.m., the Spirit of Louisiana Second Line will begin at City Hall, circling the Municipal Square block, and returning to the auditorium. The procession will be led by the Storyville Stompers brass band and will honor the many selfless individuals who have been part of the recovery and rebuilding. This includes city, parish, state and national government employees, elected officials, law enforcement, firefighters, EMS and healthcare workers, utility linemen, waste management teams, faith-based and community service organizations and volunteers, hospitality workers and the media who worked around the clock to keep citizens informed. The community is welcome to join the Second Line or express gratitude from the sidelines as the procession passes.

The Bucktown All-Stars

At 6 p.m., the events will wrap up with a concert in the auditorium featuring The Bucktown All-Stars, who were the first band to perform in the city’s popular Bayou Jam Concert Series post-Katrina. The concert will also include a special guest appearance by Vince Vance, who joined his band, The Valiants, for the second post-K concert.

The events have been created to share gratitude and to provide catharsis with a final look back on Katrina past, closing the door and looking ahead to a brighter future for the city and the community.

The Spirit of Louisiana events have been made possible by the Rebirth title sponsor, Visit the Northshore, with support from "Sophisticated Woman," "Edge of the Lake" and "Where Y’at" magazines, and Lowry-Dunham, Case and Vivien insurance. The events are supported by a grant from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s Community Partnership Grant program and other cultural organizations.

All events are free and open to the public. For additional information and to reserve free concert tickets visit KreweOfBlackAndGold.com.

This announcement was provided by Laurie Rowe and Company Public Relations.