urricane Katrina not only delivered a crushing blow to the city of New Orleans on the morning of August 29, 2005, but changed its landscape and people forever. I witnessed this killer storm from the ground, having decided to ride the storm out in my home in Old Metairie, safely located on some of the highest ground in the metro area. Little did I know that the aftermath to the hurricane would prove to be far worse than its bite. That night after the hurricane hit, as Blackhawk helicopters flew over my house, I lay awake listening to my transister radio to reports that the city was flooded beyond belief, and that levees were opening up everywhere. The next day brought both the heat and the reality that I and my family were some of the few remaining in my neighborhood. I drove around Metairie and witnessed the destruction of hundreds and hundreds of trees, homes, and automobiles. That next night, the air was so still and quiet that you could hear every snap and crunch of the downed tree limbs and leaves. There was no moon and no lights, so it was pitch black. The Milky Way was visible from my house for the first time since I've been living in this city. It was incredible. Two days later I evacuated to Houston with my parents, and remained there for three weeks, when our electricity and water were finally turned back on. I returned to a scene of total devastation. Driving back into the city was like driving back into a strange place, a place I did not recognize. Eventually when I finally got my life back to some normalcy, I decided to go see my city. The photos below are the result of that exploration. Click on any thumbnail to view the full-size photo.