WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Her destructive winds, damaging waves and torrential rains ended long ago. But the tragedy and indelible marks of Hurricane Katrina remain. As the Gulf Coast region nears the one-year anniversary of the greatest natural disaster in modern U.S. history, BET News today launches a month-long series of daily news briefs and testimonials capturing life in the aftermath for Louisiana and Mississippi as the rebuilding continues. S.O.S: SAVING OURSELVES - ONE YEAR LATER is a poignant reprise by BET News that culminates on Tuesday, September 5 with a primetime special that takes a probing look at the region's future.
BET News has assembled a cadre of celebrities, community leaders, government officials and local citizens to lend voice and perspective to its series. These individuals either lived in or traveled to the ravaged region. Some were directly impacted by the storm, while others contributed time and money to assist in the relief effort. Noteworthy participants in the series include actress Holly Robinson-Peete; rappers David Banner and Ludacris; gospel duo Mary Mary; hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons; religious leader Bishop Paul Morton; New Orleans activist Kalamu ya Salaam; Mary Joseph of the New Orleans Children's Defense Fund; and many others.
"Those powerful images of death and devastation in New Orleans and the surrounding region will be remembered forever," said Nina Henderson Moore, BET Executive Vice President of News & Public Affairs. "The rebuilding effort since then has progressed, yet been controversial at many levels. This series will do more than just revisit the past. There are still many unanswered questions about the local impact, especially among African Americans; the government's failures in the face of disaster; and the vulnerability of the area to future hurricanes. Ultimately, our series is part of BET's ongoing effort to keep the public focus on this region and its recovery."
In addition to the televised series, BET viewers can access extended coverage of the Hurricane Katrina anniversary and recovery at http://www.bet.com/. On-line content includes news stories, features, chats with experts, opinion polls, photo galleries and links to community organizations providing assistance to the thousands of victims still needing help.
