A review by jordanforrest
Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans by Don Brown

5.0

Drowned City Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans has left me feeling extremely saddened and with a taste of distrust. While I was familiar with Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it caused, I was not educated on the timeline of events and the steps that were taken in regards to the people of New Orleans during the evacuation process. To begin, it was unnerving to know that some people were unable to evacuate the city, because of age, poverty, or choice. Initially, I felt irritation thinking about those that were warned to leave and chose not to; I can’t fathom why anyone would take such a risk. It also was upsetting to envision those individuals that wanted to leave, but did not have the capacity to do so, and it makes me question whether or not steps could have been taken to get them to safety. This series of events that lasted over a span of a few days has left me feeling extremely uneasy, it has left me trying to piece together who is to blame, but I really can’t come up with an answer. I think about the people that were warned to leave, but chose not to, the city officials, the government, and FEMA. I can’t decipher who is the wrong doer. I know it is not right or necessary to put the blame on anyone; but I can’t seem to help it. I almost feel like I want to make sense of this tragedy by recognizing the faults of others that led to such devastation. I want to believe that we are able to learn from this tragedy to ensure that this never happens again, but the only way to do such a thing is to recognize where the faults lie. I can only hope that such a thing does not occur again, but if it does, that better choices are made for the good of the people. However, it is reassuring to know that such a city can be rebuilt and flourish with culture and beauty again. In 2011 I visited New Orleans for the first time. I fell in love with the architecture, history, and spirit that lived amongst the city streets. This city has been rebirthed and that is the true triumph.