New Orleans Commemorates 21st Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
New Orleans is marking the 21st anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history. The storm made landfall on August 29, 2005, as a Category 3 hurricane in Buras, Louisiana, with sustained winds of 125 mph (201 km/h). It caused catastrophic flooding, particularly in New Orleans, due to levee breaches. The disaster claimed approximately 1,392 lives and left lasting scars on the city and its residents. To honor the lives lost and the resilience of the community, the New Orleans Katrina Commemoration Inc. and city leaders have organized events, including a healing ceremony at the site of the levee breach on N. Galvez Street and Jourdan Avenue, as well as a march and second-line in the Lower Ninth Ward. Mayor Helena Moreno emphasized the importance of remembering the lessons of Katrina to better prepare for future disasters (WGNO, 2026). 
