In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Cajundome played a valuable role as a shelter for nearly 20,000 evacuees running from the storm. A new documentary called "Cajundome City" about the Cajundome's role as a storm shelter is now set to premiere at UL Lafayette’s LITE Center.

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Cajundome City: Hurricane Katrina and America’s First Mega-Shelter

Over the course of 58 days, the Cajundome was transformed into a mega-shelter housing 18,500 Hurricane Katrina evacuees.

The Cajundome's role as a mega-shelter helped create the blueprint now used across the U.S. in the wake of natural disasters.

From the press release -

"The International Association of Venue Managers asked Cajundome officials to document its procedures and processes following its time as a shelter. The resulting operations manual is a model for disasters that require large evacuations and extended shelter."

"Cajundome City", a collaborative production between Acadian House Publishing and Vidox Motion Imagery, explores how "the country’s first large-scale, long-term shelter with a medical clinic, pharmacy, commissary, and post office was established and functioned."

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“Cajundome City: Hurricane Katrina and America’s First Mega-Shelter”
will premiere at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25, at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s LITE Center, 537 Cajundome Blvd.

A social at 6 p.m. will precede the free screening.

If the video doesn't load below, you can watch the trailer HERE.

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