American Corner Innsbruck
"New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina - Then & Now" event and film series.
On September 29, 2015, the American Corner Innsbruck together with UIBK's Center New Orleans hosted the third event in the series "New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina - Then & Now" in Hörsaal 2 at the Universität Innsbruck. This event series was created to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the landfall on the Gulf coast and subsequent destruction created by Hurricane Katrina. Twenty-four guests attended the event, and their interests and professions ranged from university students and employees of the Universität Innsbruck to members of the public. To begin, guests viewed the second installment of Spike Lee’s documentary “When the Levees Broke: a Requiem in Four Parts”. Then, Louisiana born and raised, Amanda McGilvray gave her eyewitness account of the effects from Hurricane Katrina and also Hurricane Rita, which hit less than a month after Katrina.
McGilvray explained how her public schools were shut down for days as public busses were diverted to transport people out of New Orleans. McGilvray also commented on the effects of Hurricane Rita, which for the western part of Louisiana were much worse than even Hurricane Katrina. Following McGilvray’s commentary, an informal reception was held for guests to discuss details of the film and commentary informally. Guests had many questions for McGilvray and other Louisiana natives at the event, especially about the effects of the events on their lives and how New Orleans is doing now. Acts III and IV of the film and lecture series will continue in October.