Culture B2 Unit

New Orleans and its recovery

1 Work with a partner. Look at the statement. What does it 2a Read the article. What are some of the
tell you about New Orleans? ways New Orleans has recovered?

54% overall say New Orleans has recovered from Katrina.

Let the music

play on
How community and
heritage survived Katrina
I magine the humid air clinging to your skin, passing the
pastel coloured wooden houses. The rhythms and soulful
sounds beating against your eardrums. Hats and umbrellas
Since 2005 there have been many charities, events and support
for New Orleans from organisations such as the American
Red Cross and Save the Children. There is still clearly a
shade eyes and protect skin from the burning sun. Tapping struggle in the city, but little by little they have been and
fingers, shuffling feet, the feeling of music simply filling are recovering. Musicians immediately stepped up to the
the city. And not forgetting the food, Southern style challenge of rebuilding New Orleans. Within days Harry
dishes, like gumbo and jambalaya, with a kick and a Connick, Jr., and Branford Marsalis had organised
punch of flavour. This is New Orleans to many the first of many benefit concerts that would use
that visit. And many would revisit in an instant. music as a lever for fundraising.
When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in Many musicians had been badly affected by the
August 2005 a major casualty was the vibrant storm. The late Allen Toussaint lost everything
music scene for which the city is famous. including his world-famous recording studio and
1.5 million people were evacuated from the moved to New York for a while. The rhythm and
region before the hurricane struck, but up to blues star, Fats Domino, was feared missing but was rescued three days into
200,000 people remained in New Orleans. What followed was a devastating the crisis. His ruined grand piano is now on display at the State Museum.
failure of the levees and flood walls which left most of the city flooded and
in total disarray. Within 15 months most of those who intended to return had Music venues across the city rushed to reopen, but the struggle for
done so. However, there were now fears the city would never regain its lost musicians rebuilding their lives would be long and hard. Rehousing would
population. Since then the population has grown, but the growth is not evenlyalways be a problem. However, some inspiration would come from projects
distributed across the 72 neighbourhoods. such as Habitat for Humanity's Musicians’ Village which has built new
homes and communities in order to preserve New Orlean's
Spike Lee's documentary, When the Levees Broke, When Hurricane musical heritage and St Bernard's Project which has
gave many personal and political accounts of how many helped to rebuild homes with the help of over 100,000
people initially believed they could stay and survive Katrina struck New volunteers. There's also Brad Pitt, Make It Right Foundation
the hurricane as they had done with Hurricane Betsy Orleans in August 2005 that build homes, buildings and communities.
in 1965. Katrina started in Florida and was quickly
making its way to New Orleans. Reaching a Category a major casualty was Many projects, like Tipitina's Music
5 hurricane, it was bringing tropical force winds and the vibrant music scene Foundation and The Roots of Music,
heavy rains. were also started to nourish the
for which the city is musical talents of the younger
The warning that it could be one of the worst storms famous. generation and support the
brought New Orleans into a state of emergency and a music community. While the
mandatory evacuation was necessary and issued. musical heritage clearly
survived, there are many new challenges
as the process of gentrification and
civic improvements negatively
impact the less affluent
neighbourhoods where
traditions such as Second
Line Parades and Mardi
Gras live on.

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Culture
2b Read the article again and decide if the sentences
are True (T) or False (F). Correct the false
sentences.
1 The mandatory evacuation meant everyone
immediately left the city.
2 Many famous musicians used their wealth
to help the city.
3 Some poverty stricken neighbourhoods
are still experiencing negative impacts.
4 Fewer people now live in New Orleans
since Hurricane Katrina.
5 Brad Pitt's Foundation was to support
the musical heritage.
2c Read and complete the statements according to
the article.
1 A major cause of the flooding was the ...
2 What definitely still remains of New Orleans is its ...
3 A sense of community is encouraged to continue in
traditional events like ...
4 The reopening of music venues around the city
meant ...
5 Suggested ways to recover from a natural disaster
might be to ...
6 Many projects were started to ...
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B2 Unit
Gateway to culture
3a Work with a partner and discuss the questions.
1 Have you visited anywhere that has suffered a natural
disaster?
T/F
2 Would you visit or have you visited New Orleans?
3 How do you think the recovery of New Orleans
would compare to your town or city if it experienced
T/F a natural disaster?
PROJECT
T/F 3b You are going to work on a project about the
recovery of a different city/town affected by
a natural disaster. Read the questions and
prepare for your project research.
T/F
1 Work in small groups. Choose a city or town
affected by a natural disaster and research it on
the Internet. Create a specific event or charity that
T/F you believe could continue to help the city and its
people recover from the event.
2 In your groups, consider the points below when
you prepare your project research.
■ type of natural disaster
■ impact
■ after-effects
■ help offered
■ charity work and support
■ positive outcomes
■ cultural heritage and identity
■ ongoing work and help needed
■ any other useful information
3c Present your findings and suggestions for
fundraising or support to the class. Describe
the reasons for your suggestions and how you
think they could help.
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