Overview

• New Orleans’ catastrophic flooding began on August 29, 2005, when deteriorated levees broke and submerged entire neighborhoods within hours.
• The disaster killed more than 1,300 people, left hundreds of thousands homeless, and saw many who fled never return.
• The Superdome, used as a mass shelter for over 20,000 people, descended into dire conditions with scarce water, food, power, and working toilets.
• Rescue teams marked searched homes with X-codes that recorded the date, unit, hazards, and any fatalities, leaving stark visual ledgers on walls.
• Two decades on, the city still bears visible wounds as tourist districts rebounded faster than hard-hit, predominantly Black areas, where investor-led redevelopment fueled displacement.