Blog # 4

The Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina

In August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, covering an 86% of the city and leaving it devastated. Based on the video Drive through the Lower 9^th, the Lower Night Ward region suffered the worst damages of flooding. With a population of 14,008 and 98.3% of them African Americans and house owners of a 59% this region had ended upside down. Houses and trees were moved from their ground and the flooding level reached up to 17 feet covering entire houses. To give us an example of the flooding magnitude caused by Hurricane Katrina on this region the film compared the flooded areas with the size of seven times of Manhattan. Many people couldn’t leave the city because of their low income situation. Some weren’t economically ready so they didn’t have another option than stay behind risking their lives; compere to those that were able to leave the city. A victim from the Drive commented that “Hurricane Katrina didn’t cause all the destruction, but the government since they are helping people from other countries and doing anything for the people of The Lower Ninth Ward”. In other words, the government forgot about them (Drive through the Lower 9^th).  A good example of this statement is also found in the book of Zeitoun by Dave Eggers.  Zeitoun was one of the many, whose decision was to stay in the city because he wanted to look after his worksite and because he was concerned of his wealth being. However, he also ended up rescuing people in his canoe. He rescued people that were struggling, from elderly to pets that were left aside by the government (Eggers 110). In the article,” 6 years After Katrina, Lower 9^th Ward Still Bleak” by Cain Burdeau, he clearly describes how the Lower 9^th Ward has been abandoned by the government. He also makes a comparison of the neighborhood with a” ghost town” completely abandoned. The grass has growth taller just like people’s houses are still in bad conditions and the streets are empty.

Bibliography

Drive through the Lower 9^th (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubbjgLDKGyk).  The book of Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers

Blackvoices article, “6 years After Katrina, Lower 9^th Ward Still Bleak” by Cain Burdeau (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/28/6-years-after-katrina-low_n_939782.html)