06/23/2026
Day 8, AKA “Katrina Day”: Today was all about Hurricane Katrina. We spent the day driving around to different sites to learn the effects of the hurricane, how it impacted different areas throughout New Orleans, and the lasting changes still seen throughout the city 21 years later.
One of these sites included the location of the Industrial Canal levee breach, one of 50 breaches during the storm, which devastated the Lower Ninth Ward. We discussed the efforts to rebuild and how many were ultimately unsuccessful. It was a surreal experience to drive through so many empty lots where families had never been able to return home.
We also stopped by a statue that commemorated the efforts of Latin-Americans in the rebuilding of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. When the city lacked the manpower to recover afterwards, immigrants stepped up to fill the gap and help other residents start over.
After a quick stop for lunch at The Joint, an amazing BBQ restaurant, we visited The Presbytère, a museum with two main exhibits. The first was “Living with Hurricanes: Katrina & Beyond.” This exhibit included video footage, artifacts, and images of the storm and its aftermath. While it clearly showed the damage, it also proved the resilience and community ties that allowed average people to contribute to the response. Upstairs was an exhibit on the history of Mardi Gras, while it was very a different learning experience, it helped to show the unique culture that had built that resilience in New Orleans.
