THE STORM

     On August 29, 2005, Nunez Community College and its entire service area was struck by Hurricane Katrina, in what would become the greatest natural disaster to affect the United States in recorded history. St. Bernard Parish, the home parish of the campus, was almost completely decimated as it took a direct hit and suffered flood waters that in many areas did not recede for weeks. The first floor of every building on the Chalmette campus was flooded more than seven feet. 

     Despite dire predictions, the College presented a fall mini-semester within weeks of the disaster, enrolling students in on-line classes and in classes at Slidell High School and other locations. By the end of December, the Facilities Department, along with volunteer crews and others, had gutted the first floors of the buildings and had electricity, water, and sewer hook ups in the Arts, Sciences, & Technology Building.  The College became an oasis in the ravaged parish and a catalyst for business and industry revitalization as it opened the campus for business in January of 2006 and resumed classes on campus on January 25, 2006.