NEW ORLEANS: A CITY ‘ON A ROLL’
Few other cities in America have ever faced a catastrophic event that threatened its very existence more so than NewOrleans did on Aug. 29, 2005, when Hurricane Katrina washed ashore and the federal levees failed, flooding more than 80 percent of our city and causing more than $150 billion in damages.
Hurricane Katrina was a tragic and devastating event for us and for the country — more than 1 million people displaced, 1 million homes damaged and more than 1,800 lives lost.
But in the midst of all the death and destruction, something else happened. The storm passed, the waters receded and legions of people came from across this great country and the world to support our recovery.
So, as we approach the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we are not only remembering the lives we lost and counting our blessings, but we are also giving thanks to those whohelped us survive, recover and rebuild, including the people and great city of Houston.
Before and after the storm, NewOrleanians sought refuge in cities across the country. But, no city opened its arms wider than did Houston where as many as 250,000 evacuees were greeted with compassion, charity and warmth.
I amparticularly grateful for strong leaders like Houston Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Robert Eckles, whotook bold actions to comfort fellow Americans whose lives had just been uprooted through no fault of their own. I amequally thankful to Mayor Annise Parker, whocontinues to be a great friend and strong ally of NewOrleans.
Following Katrina, Houston did much more than just offer temporary shelter to evacuees; you offered them a chance to make a home. Led by Mayor White, Houston mobilized more than 100,000 of its own residents to help evacuees rebuild their lives with innovative programs that helped ensure long-term housing, job placement services and access to public education. For his efforts, Mayor White received the 2007 John F. Kennedy Profile in