Hurricane Relief

It will be many years before the sections of Louisiana devastated in 2005 by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita recover, and much will probably never be the same. We in Louisiana are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from across the country and around the world, both the generous donations and the many dedicated people who gave of themselves by coming to Louisiana to provide direct help under difficult, challenging conditions.

Click here for a personal view of New Orleans on the run during the Mardi Gras Marathon, Feb. 5, 2006. Among the many books written about Katrina and New Orleans, you may want to examine Jed Horne's Breach of Faith: Hurricane Katrina and the Near Death of a Great American City, published by Random House. Less well covered but equally devastating to those affected is the destruction caused by Hurricane Rita along the coast in Southwest Louisiana. Coastal regions also suffered once again from the onslaught of Hurricane Ike in 2008.

Read about "Hurricane Gumbo," Evangeline Parish, and New Orleans in The Nation.

Click here for photos of the annual benefit at El Sido's held November 16, 2005.

Below are links to pages posted in fall 2005 in the aftermath of the hurricanes.

Roddy Romero gets the large crowd at Parc International to clap their hands during Band Together, a fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina victims held Sept. 10. Click here for more photos.

New Orleans musician Bruce Daigrepont is shown at Festivals Acadiens. Click here for more photos, including a benefit at the Liberty Theater.

Leroy Thomas organized a Hurricane Stress Relief Party. Click here for more photos taken Oct. 26 at Nick's on 2nd in Eunice.

Skip Stewart organized the Cajun American Recovery Effort (CARE) benefit Oct. 30 at Eunice High. Click here for a few photos of the event.