It’s been almost 20 years since Hurricane Katrina roared through Slidell, the Louisiana city hardest-hit by the storm. The hurricane brought winds in excess of 160 miles per hour and numerous tornadoes. After hours of torrential rain and wind, residents breathed a sigh of relief when it seemed like the storm had finally passed. That reprieve was short-lived when the calm after the storm was shattered by a 20-foot storm surge that left more than 40 percent of the city submerged, with flooding in some areas exceeding ten feet. More than 95 percent of homes and businesses sustained damage. Some were completely obliterated. Virtually overnight, Slidellians discovered the harsh new reality of post-disaster life.
Now, two decades later, relentless resilience and commitments to recovery have paved the way to the rebirth of the tattered city. To commemorate the milestone anniversary of the storm, the Krewe of Black & Gold, a local non-profit organization, has partnered with the City of Slidell and Northshore Cultural Economy Coalition to present “The Spirit of Louisiana Katrina 20 Commemoration.” The three-part event will begin on Saturday, August 30 at 4 p.m. in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium. The ceremony will acknowledge the losses that so many have suffered plus the efforts of all the recovery workers and volunteers who contributed to rebuilding the city. Featured speakers will include Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert and former Mayor Ben O. Morris, Parish President Michael Cooper and past-President Kevin Davis.
At 5 p.m., the Spirit of Louisiana Second Line will begin at City Hall, circling the Municipal Square block, and returning to the auditorium. The procession will be led by the Storyville Stompers brass band and will honor the many selfless individuals who have been part of the recovery and rebuilding. This includes city, parish, state and national government employees, elected officials, law enforcement, firefighters, EMS and healthcare workers, utility linemen, waste management teams, faith-based and community service organizations and volunteers, hospitality workers and the media who worked around the clock to keep citizens informed. The community is welcome to join the Second Line or express gratitude from the sidelines as the procession passes.
At 6 p.m., the events will wrap up with a special Bayou Jam concert in the auditorium featuring The Bucktown All-Stars, who were the first band to perform in the city’s popular Bayou Jam Concert Series post-Katrina. The concert will also include a special guest appearance by Vince Vance, who joined his band, The Valiants, for the second post-K concert.
The events have been created to share gratitude and to provide catharsis with a final look back on Katrina past, closing the door and looking ahead to a brighter future for the city and the community.
The Spirit of Louisiana events have been made possible by the Rebirth title sponsor, Visit the Northshore, with support from Sophisticated Woman, Edge of the Lake and Where Y’at magazines, and Lowry-Dunham, Case and Vivien Insurance Agency. The events are supported by a grant from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s Community Partnership Grant program. Funding has also been provided by the St. Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs, an agency of the St. Tammany Parish Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, and support by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works.
