The Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Gustav is becoming an increasing threat this Labor Day weekend. Already, extensive flooding and mudslides have been reported in Haiti, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. Now the storm looks like it will make a direct hit on Louisiana. Today, New Orleans residents are preparing for the upcoming storm, but not before remembering the devastation of the past. Hurricane Katrina barreled into New Orleans on August 29, 2008. In a ceremony last night, residents in the Big Easy honored and remembered those that lost their lives in the storm 3 years ago. The white linens in this photo, taken at Metairie Cemetery on August 28, 2008, represents one white flag for each person who died in the storm and her aftermath.

Today, cemetery workers sealed the crypts where eight caskets containing the unclaimed remains of victims of Hurricane Katrina were laid to rest in unmarked graves during a symbolic burial service on the 3 year anniversary in New Orleans. The bodies were unclaimed since 2005. Eight such victims were interred at the Katrina Memorial/Charity Hospital Cemetery, followed by a ceremonial bell ringing, signifying the series of levee breaches that occurred throughout the city in 2005.