Look and Leave : New Orleans in the Wake of Katrina

This project grew out of having witnessed the aftermath of an unprecedented and devastating natural disaster. As a clinical social worker I spent two weeks providing care and comfort to the survivors of Katrina and Rita, two deadly hurricanes that passed through the south in August of 2005. I was stationed in New Orleans and worked with a program called "Look and Leave." The residents who had been dispersed were "invited" back to view their homes in the Lower Ninth Ward, a neighborhood that suffered not only the hurricane, but two breaks in a levee that drowned the community. I accompanied the residents back into their homes for the first time since they fled.
I have been in mourning ever since. The stories I heard had one thing in common: they were all heartbreaking. These images are my attempt to describe what I saw. I hope these images will ensure that the survivors will not be forgotten.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• new
• orleans
• lower
• ninth
• ward
• katrina
• hurricane
• south
• levees
• louisiana

[astorastilbe]

great photos

[janealt]

Thanks so much...the work will be published in August 2009 in a book.

[LizaJane77]

Wonderful film, and I loved your photographs. Did you by any chance get to do any work in the lakefront/New Orleans East areas? Or were you only in the 9th ward?

[janealt]

I was only stationed in the lower ninth and thus only photographed there.

Thanks for your comments.

[therealQuietStorm]

We love you New Orleans!! All the way from Tulsa Oklahoma. May god bless each and everyone of you whose lives were changed from such a disaster

[tstig73]

We are fastly approaching the 2-year anniversary of Hurrican Katrina, and it still hurts to see footage of the devastation and destruction. Thank you for your pictures. I know where every church in your video is, as I am from New Orleans and was born and raised in the Lower Ninth Ward.

[Sergio1975ism]

Lembrar...é continuar a viver...

[CajunLady05]

question for you can a person who was in the 9th ward still have like mental stuff from the storm five years later?

[dawnrexgurl]

I have always been fascinated with your city for a loooooonnng time mainly because of Mardi graw and the history This is such a shame how the people of NO were treated when I saw it on the news when one guy said his wife slipped out of his hands I cried Im so glad Bush is gone because he fucked up period bless yall from NYC we love u!!!!!

[janealt]

Its from the cd Our New Orleans..Randy Newman and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra....great album

[stealthmanor]

More than 2 years later, I still live it every day because my 85 year old parents (as well as all of my life long friends) lost all that they worked hard for all of their lives. I don't think they will ever come out of their depression, or truly get over their loss of community. Material things can be replaced, but the loss of community is the ultimate loss.

[19panther87]

global warming , i think the people of New Orleans would be more concerned with there houses and belongings washing away. i wish them good luck

[Saigon72]

i hope the people of new orleans are more concerned about global warming, after having a taste of it. i'd be surprised if they arn't