2005年8月30日，卡崔娜颶風橫掃墨西灣沿岸地區，造成至少1836人喪生、超過812億美元的損失，為美國有史以來損失最慘痛的天災，亦是歷年來死傷率最高的災害之一。
3級颶風卡崔娜掃過紐奧良東部，導致路易斯安那州紐奧良市的防洪系統53處毀損。另外，幾乎所有堤防潰堤，造成紐澳良市8成地區與鄰近的行政區水患持續數週。
30日當天，包括卡崔娜颶風的倖存者、受到波及的各州官員以及布希總統，紛紛舉辦各種活動來紀念這個2週年。
站在低九區（Lower Ninth Ward）災後重建的第一所公立學校前，路易斯安那州長布蘭科（Katherine Blanco）強調，「隨著重建的腳步，對未來抱持著樂觀與信心。」
她說道，「學校歡迎新學生的加入、家園持續重建當中、各企業敞開大門，就如大家所看到的，我們正以緩慢但穩定的步伐，回到以往大家熟悉的生活。」
Two years ago today, Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, costing at least 1,836 people their lives and causing at least $81.2 billion in damage, making it the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history and one of the deadliest.
In Louisiana, the flood protection system in New Orleans failed in 53 different places as Hurricane Katrina passed east of the city as a category 3 storm. Nearly every levee in metro New Orleans broke open, flooding 80 percent of the city and many areas of neighboring parishes for weeks.
Today, everyone from hurricane survivors to the governors of the affected states to President George W. Bush marked the anniversary in a diversity of ways.
Standing in the first public school to open in the Lower Ninth Ward after the devastation, Governor Blanco stressed "the optimism and hope that comes with progress."
"Schools are welcoming new students. Homes are being rebuilt. Businesses are opening their doors. Life as we knew it is slowly but surely returning to our neighborhoods," Blanco said.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
