New Orleans, 20 years post-Katrina, confronts a critical juncture

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the city of New Orleans, causing extensive damage and human suffering. As a documentary about the hurricane is being screened, the city finds itself once again grappling with challenges that pose particular risks to low-lying coastal communities.

The Trump administration's efforts to combat climate change have been set aside, potentially exacerbating the vulnerability of cities like New Orleans. The White House is considering whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency should play a role in disaster recovery.

The city's drainage system, which moves more water than most cities in the country, has proven to be a vital asset in managing floodwaters. However, many residents feel that the city's infrastructure is dilapidated, and City Hall is not functioning effectively.

The federal response to the disaster was sluggish and chaotic. Thousands of people were languishing in a damaged Superdome that had become a shelter of last resort. The organization that abandoned a project in 2021 to restore the Louisiana wetlands, which serve as natural protection against hurricanes, was the National Audubon Society.

More recently, Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, scrapped a project meant to restore the wetlands of coastal Louisiana, further weakening the city's defences against future storms. The city has suffered from a deadly terrorist attack, another hurricane, a pandemic, and a surge in violence in recent years.

Despite these challenges, there are signs of hope. Lamar Gardere, the executive director of the Data Center, stated that data does not support a completely bleak picture for the city of New Orleans 10 and 20 years after Hurricane Katrina. He compared the city's progress to the NFL team, the Saints, who won the Super Bowl in 2010 but have had subpar seasons since.

At an art exhibition about Katrina, Carlos Talbott, 58, expressed interest in looking toward the city's future rather than dwelling on its past destruction. Talbott declined to participate in the exhibition until the last minute, indicating a focus on the city's future. The mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, has been indicted on charges of using public funds for a romantic relationship with her bodyguard.

Chandra McCormick, a resident of the Lower 9th Ward, expressed uncertainty about the city's future direction. Erander Guss-Lee, a security guard, was standing outside an auditorium in New Orleans, reflecting on the passage of 20 years and noting that "time is a son of a gun."

New Orleans has not fully realized much of the hope for improved governance, flood protection, schools, and police that followed the disaster. However, the resilience of the city and its people remains unwavering, as they continue to rebuild and look towards a brighter future.