Hurricane Katrina: The Drive: New Orleans Lower 9th Ward

A painful irony of post-Katrina New Orleans is how few people throughout the country understand the extent of what has happened to the city. Many people do not realize that, nearly 10 months later, things are not back to normal in New Orleans. As America's attention fades from Hurricane Katrina's impact, a disabled New Orleans continues to struggle for survival. In many respects, New Orleans is alive and kicking. People are moving home, schools are opening, cultural activities have returned and, in some neighborhoods, life has a sense of near normalcy; however, all it takes is a short drive outside of the French Quarter or Uptown to witness extensive loss and devastation. The magnitude of flooding was incomprehensible and New Orleans still has many challenges to overcome. The only way to really get a sense of the magnitude of the post-Katrina destruction is to physically walk or drive through the affected areas. With this in mind, NOVAC presents The Drive. The Drive provides a raw visual and narrated tour through four of the most devastated neighborhoods in New Orleans and is supported with extensive footage, maps, interviews, digital imagery, and an original musical score by Emmy nominated composer, Gil Talmi. Through this community-based documentary project, we present stories from a local point-of-view. We hope this effort will garner continued support for the rebuilding of a great American city.