NPR Series: Six Months After Katrina https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5236558 As New Orleans celebrates a bittersweet Mardi Gras, the city and the Gulf Coast mark the six-month anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's devastating blow. Follow NPR coverage of the region's efforts to rebound and the many obstacles to recovery that remain. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:53:17 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: Six Months After Katrina https://www.npr.org/series/5236558/six-months-after-katrina Katrina Took Deadly Toll on Elderly Nearly 40 percent of the people who died during Hurricane Katrina and the ensuring floods were over age 71. Relatives of three elderly victims recall the decisions that preceded their loved ones' deaths. Sun, 05 Mar 2006 12:04:18 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/05/5242064/katrina-took-deadly-toll-on-elderly https://www.npr.org/2006/03/05/5242064/katrina-took-deadly-toll-on-elderly Nearly 40 percent of the people who died during Hurricane Katrina and the ensuring floods were over age 71. Relatives of three elderly victims recall the decisions that preceded their loved ones' deaths.

]]> Audie Cornish Back to the Lean Times for New Orleans This year's Mardi Gras was necessary for New Orleanians to rouse themselves from their post-Katrina funk, says Crescent City resident Chris Rose. But now that the revelry has faded, residents must once again turn to the long, hard task of reclaiming their city, and their heritage. Fri, 03 Mar 2006 23:03:50 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/03/5242029/back-to-the-lean-times-for-new-orleans https://www.npr.org/2006/03/03/5242029/back-to-the-lean-times-for-new-orleans

This year's Mardi Gras was necessary for New Orleanians to rouse themselves from their post-Katrina funk, says Crescent City resident Chris Rose. But now that the revelry has faded, residents must once again turn to the long, hard task of reclaiming their city, and their heritage.

]]> Chris Rose The Bordelons and Ronald Lewis: Mardi Gras Update Steve Inskeep checks in with some New Orleans residents with whom he has been in touch since Hurricane Katrina hit. The Bordelon family lives in St. Bernard Parish. Ronald Lewis is the president of a Ninth Ward social club. Fri, 03 Mar 2006 23:02:48 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/03/5242084/the-bordelons-and-ronald-lewis-mardi-gras-update https://www.npr.org/2006/03/03/5242084/the-bordelons-and-ronald-lewis-mardi-gras-update

Steve Inskeep checks in with some New Orleans residents with whom he has been in touch since Hurricane Katrina hit. The Bordelon family lives in St. Bernard Parish. Ronald Lewis is the president of a Ninth Ward social club.

(Image credit: Bruce Auster, NPR)

]]> Steve Inskeep New Orleans Awaits FEMA Flood Maps New Orleans is waiting for important news from FEMA later this month: new flood maps. They'll tell homeowners how high off the ground they should build depending on local elevations. Being any lower than that might make flood insurance prohibitively expensive or unavailable. Fri, 03 Mar 2006 17:11:23 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/03/5244573/new-orleans-awaits-fema-flood-maps https://www.npr.org/2006/03/03/5244573/new-orleans-awaits-fema-flood-maps New Orleans is waiting for important news from FEMA later this month: new flood maps. They'll tell homeowners how high off the ground they should build depending on local elevations. Being any lower than that might make flood insurance prohibitively expensive or unavailable.

]]> Robert Siegel 'A Studio in the Woods' Offers Hope for New Orleans Joe and Lucianne Carmichael say nature's post-Katrina burst of renewal on their land in Orleans Parish offers important lessons to humans trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina. Fri, 03 Mar 2006 16:19:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/03/5244076/a-studio-in-the-woods-offers-hope-for-new-orleans https://www.npr.org/2006/03/03/5244076/a-studio-in-the-woods-offers-hope-for-new-orleans

Joe and Lucianne Carmichael say nature's post-Katrina burst of renewal on their land in Orleans Parish offers important lessons to humans trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina.

(Image credit: Andrea Hsu, NPR)

]]> Michele Norris Sharon White Regains Her Determination to Rebuild New Orleans resident Sharon White is more determined than ever to rebuild her home. In January, she was devastated to learn that the city had decided against reviving her neighborhood. But now she has a building permit and she wants a FEMA trailer so she can begin the restoration. Fri, 03 Mar 2006 12:16:39 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/03/5244449/sharon-white-regains-her-determination-to-rebuild https://www.npr.org/2006/03/03/5244449/sharon-white-regains-her-determination-to-rebuild

New Orleans resident Sharon White is more determined than ever to rebuild her home. In January, she was devastated to learn that the city had decided against reviving her neighborhood. But now she has a building permit and she wants a FEMA trailer so she can begin the restoration.

]]> Michele Norris Will Government Bulldoze New Orleans-Area Homes? Steve Inskeep asks Polly Boudreaux, clerk of council for Louisiana's Saint Bernard Parish, whether the rumors that Colleen and Donald Bordelon have heard about bulldozing large parts of the parish are true. Fri, 03 Mar 2006 06:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/03/5243398/will-government-bulldoze-new-orleans-area-homes https://www.npr.org/2006/03/03/5243398/will-government-bulldoze-new-orleans-area-homes Steve Inskeep asks Polly Boudreaux, clerk of council for Louisiana's Saint Bernard Parish, whether the rumors that Colleen and Donald Bordelon have heard about bulldozing large parts of the parish are true.

]]> Dr. John: 'We're Gonna Be Back' in New Orleans One of New Orleans' best-known native sons, the piano professor Mac Rebennack, a.k.a. Dr. John, was back in town for Mardi Gras this week. In a tour of devastated neighborhoods, he expresses fear that the city's unique grassroots culture has been uprooted. Thu, 02 Mar 2006 23:04:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/02/5240124/dr-john-were-gonna-be-back-in-new-orleans https://www.npr.org/2006/03/02/5240124/dr-john-were-gonna-be-back-in-new-orleans

One of New Orleans' best-known native sons, the piano professor Mac Rebennack, a.k.a. Dr. John, was back in town for Mardi Gras this week. In a tour of devastated neighborhoods, he expresses fear that the city's unique grassroots culture has been uprooted.

]]> John Burnett New Orleans Regains Its Famous Appetite As New Orleans comes back to life, the restaurants that have reopened their doors are hopping. Michele Norris visits Li'l Dizzy's Cafe, where owner Wayne Baquet cooks up breakfast for about a hundred customers every morning. Thu, 02 Mar 2006 18:41:57 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/02/5242293/new-orleans-regains-its-famous-appetite https://www.npr.org/2006/03/02/5242293/new-orleans-regains-its-famous-appetite

As New Orleans comes back to life, the restaurants that have reopened their doors are hopping. Michele Norris visits Li'l Dizzy's Cafe, where owner Wayne Baquet cooks up breakfast for about a hundred customers every morning.

(Image credit: Andrea Hsu, NPR)

]]> Michele Norris Laundromats Are Hopping in Post-Katrina Mississippi Hancock County, Miss., has 8,000 temporary FEMA trailers with electricity, water and sewer. These are small travel units, with a kitchen and a bathroom but no washer or dryer, so keeping a family in clean clothes means a visit to a crowded laundromat. Rich man, poor man -- quarters are what really count. Thu, 02 Mar 2006 18:21:53 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2006/03/02/5242257/laundromats-are-hopping-in-post-katrina-mississippi https://www.npr.org/2006/03/02/5242257/laundromats-are-hopping-in-post-katrina-mississippi

Hancock County, Miss., has 8,000 temporary FEMA trailers with electricity, water and sewer. These are small travel units, with a kitchen and a bathroom but no washer or dryer, so keeping a family in clean clothes means a visit to a crowded laundromat. Rich man, poor man -- quarters are what really count.

]]> Noah Adams