New Orleans: The southern US city of New Orleans is preparing to mark the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the devastating storm that reshaped the city known for its lively music, rich culture, and spicy food. The city will hold a week of tributes, workshops, and community service events to remember the tragedy and celebrate its ongoing recovery.

Hurricane Katrina, which struck on 29 August 2005, caused over 1,800 deaths and widespread destruction. The storm's fierce winds and a huge storm surge overwhelmed the city’s levees, resulting in more than 50 breaches and flooding nearly 80 percent of New Orleans. Entire neighbourhoods were submerged, displacing thousands and exposing critical infrastructure weaknesses.

At a press conference on Friday, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell spoke about the importance of unity and strength as the city marks two decades since the disaster. "Today is really an opportunity to hit the reset button to reignite our community in unity that will take us 20 years from now, empowered to move forward for the next 20," Cantrell said.

She added to Xinhua news agency, "What we're saying is what we're living. New Orleans is resilient, and we are uplifting and recognising how our residents continue to push forward."

A week of events planned across city

The commemorative activities will take place from August 23 to 30, beginning with a citywide Day of Service on August 23. Residents will join community projects such as refurbishing public playgrounds.

On August 28, a panel titled “The State of New Orleans Culture: 20 Years After Katrina” will be held at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, bringing together artists and cultural leaders.

The anniversary of the storm’s landfall on August 29 will feature the traditional Katrina March and Second Line parade, starting with a healing ceremony and concluding with a rally celebrating the city’s resilience.

On August 30, Mayor Cantrell will host the Hurricane Katrina 20th Anniversary Commemorative Summit to discuss the storm’s impact, rebuilding efforts, and current challenges like poor infrastructure and climate injustice in vulnerable communities.

Leading up to the anniversary, New Orleans is also hosting art exhibitions, film screenings, and music events. Meanwhile, Mississippi is holding a “Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers” photo exhibition in Jackson that will run through November.

Across the United States, documentaries and television specials are revisiting Katrina’s legacy. Notable productions include The Weather Channel’s Katrina 20 and Spike Lee’s Netflix series “Katrina: Come Hell and High Water.” Organisers in New Orleans issued a statement: “Hurricane Katrina impacted all of us, and it took all of us to recover.”

With IANS inputs