This month marks 20 years because the failing and defective U.S. Military Corps’ levees overwhelmed town of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit. That catastrophe left an indelible mark on town, with scars that may nonetheless be seen in some locations, but in addition stay in much less seen methods. These marks are not any much less extreme.

At The Lens, our journalists have spent the previous yr researching and writing in regards to the impacts the flooding had on town’s residents. On the schooling system, the felony justice system, the atmosphere.

Throughout and after the storm hit, levees and floodwalls in New Orleans and the encircling areas failed in additional than 50 places, leaving 80% of town flooded. The flooding resulted in energy outages and transportation failures all through town, making the emergency response to the storm much more tough. 

After Katrina, federal, state and native governments spent greater than $12 billion on the development of 350 miles of recent levees, flood partitions and different constructions. However water corrodes metallic, so even with this huge expenditure, residents and others are questioning how secure New Orleans is from the subsequent large storm.

Our company this week embrace Pulitzer-prize-winning environmental journalist and Walton Household Basis Fellow Mark Schleifstein and The Lens’ environmental reporter Delaney Nolan.

Theme music by Podington Bear. Further music Beachheads and Iris by Podington Bear soundofpicture.com. 

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