What public event highlighted the vulnerability of coffins during severe weather in New Orleans?

Hurricane Katrina serves as a critical public event that underscored the vulnerability of coffins during severe weather in New Orleans. The hurricane, which struck in August 2005, caused widespread flooding and destruction in the city, leading to significant environmental challenges. One of the tragic outcomes of the hurricane was that many of the above-ground tombs in New Orleans cemeteries were compromised. Due to the city's unique burial practices, where many coffins are placed above ground to avoid issues with flooding, the intense flooding from the hurricane caused some of these structures to break open, allowing coffins to wash away or become exposed. This phenomenon highlighted not only the physical fragility of the burial systems in place but also raised broader conversations about the city’s infrastructure, climate change, and the preservation of cultural heritage in disaster-prone areas. Therefore, Hurricane Katrina is a pivotal event illustrating the precarious situation of burial practices in a city known for its above-ground tombs.