New Orleans East is especially vulnerable to natural disasters that constantly threaten the city. Hurricane Ida exploited and exacerbated the deep-rooted issues of New Orleans East, including a power grid that left some New Orleans East neighborhoods without power even before Ida hit.
To avoid this situation, the city built a $210 million gas-fired power plant in New Orleans East that could jumpstart grid lines in case of an emergency. But when Ida hit, the plant failed.
Homes across New Orleans East were devastated like homes throughout Orleans Parish, but crime also skyrocketed in the neighborhood. Looting ravaged evacuated homes, and many New Orleans East residents returned to homes damaged and empty.
Many governmental services were put on hold, including trash pickup. New Orleans East was hit with major sanitation issues following the hurricane.
But Hurricane Ida’s immediate effects of sanitation, damage, and crime rest atop systemic issues with roots much deeper than Hurricane Ida. Of the nine neighborhoods making up New Orleans East, poverty ranges from 10.5% to almost 50%. In each neighborhood, no more than 18% had a bachelor’s degree. These upsetting statistics are evidence of the lasting effects of systemic racism, as most neighborhoods have a very high percentage of Black residents.
Hurricane Ida greatly exacerbated systemic racism and its correlated issues in New Orleans East. Homes, businesses, and infrastructure took massive hits in an area of New Orleans that already receives too little attention.
Until New Orleans East can become a resilient neighborhood, each natural disaster will continue to chip away at its vibrant life. To be resilient, New Orleans East must be adaptable to the future. That’s why sustainable projects are the best way to build up New Orleans East and keep its culture intact.
Businesses like Folgers are becoming part of the sustainable future. Folgers Coffee of New Orleans East is one of the few local businesses that has survived Hurricane Katrina, the pandemic, and now Hurricane Ida. Even through all of this strife, Folgers has chosen to join the Love Your City initiative to preserve its future and better its community. Making commitments to sustainability like Folgers is to commit to the future of New Orleans East.
Tragedies like Hurricane Ida aren’t going to stop devastating New Orleans East until progress is made.
This blogpost is part of a series leading up to the 2022 Love Your City Awards. Every ticket sold for this edition will support a green infrastructure project in New Orleans East. To learn more about this project and purchase tickets please visit www.loveyourcityawards.com.