Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Katrina anniversary adds to stress

There was a time when hurricane prep for Gentilly, La., native Mark Bologna was buying beer and fried chicken ahead of landfall. Those type preps ended with 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, which claimed his family home and business. Last weekend, prep began anew as Hurricanes Marco and Laura were heading for the Gulf Coast. His new regimented checklist went into action: Firing up a generator and moving his vehicle to higher ground. The new process is aimed at “trying to control something you can’t,” Bologna told NOLA.com. “But, since it’s the Katrina (15th) anniversary (Aug. 29) that just adds to the stress.” Katrina caused levees to fail, which inundated much of New Orleans’ 9th Ward. 1,800-plus died. Each anniversary is a marker of how far communities have come. The anniversary also arrives as a new storm (Laura) churns in the Gulf of Mexico, turning memories into foreboding. The entire Louisiana-Texas region is watching Laura’s progress, although that track is far from certain. For many, the intersection with Katrina’s anniversary just makes the watching and waiting more excruciating. (Source: NOLA. Com 08/25/20) https://www.nola.com/news/article_a96c23fc-e647-11ea-98ac-e33cecd8875b.html

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