Across almost every social strata, almost every level of damage from the flood, all of the citizens of New Orleans had one thing in common after the storm: the loss of their refrigerator. As power was knocked out across most of the city and it was impossible to return to the city to check on houses or apartments weeks after 80% of New Orleans was inundated by water, most fridges sat in their kitchens, baking in the sweltering August heat.

Upon returning, even those that did not...
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Across almost every social strata, almost every level of damage from the flood, all of the citizens of New Orleans had one thing in common after the storm: the loss of their refrigerator. As power was knocked out across most of the city and it was impossible to return to the city to check on houses or apartments weeks after 80% of New Orleans was inundated by water, most fridges sat in their kitchens, baking in the sweltering August heat.

Upon returning, even those that did not need their houses gutted found that one thing in their houses did need to go- the swollen, ripe fridge. Out they went to the curb, where they began another cycle of neglect as the city was overwhelmed with garbage and the fridges needed special pickup as they were toxic in nature. Months passed, with some fridges still standing sentry at the front of their yards, muted guard dogs taped or otherwise fastened shut by their former owners.
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