Editing Chalmette, Louisiana (section)

==History==
Chalmette was founded by [[Plantations in the American South|plantation owner]] Louis-Xavier Martin de Lino de Chalmette (1720–1755), a native of [[Quebec]] and grandson of [[René-Louis Chartier de Lotbinière]] of [[Duke of Kent House, Quebec|Maison Lotbinière]]. His eldest son, [[Louis Xavier Martin de Lino de Chalmette]] (1753–1814) was born there and married the sister of [[Antoine Philippe de Marigny]], grandfather of [[Bernard de Marigny]]. <!--keep size as "thumb" to auto-size on small screens-->

In January 1815, the [[Battle of New Orleans]] was fought at the [[Chalmette plantation]], then owned by his second son, Ignace Martin de Lino de Chalmette (1755–1815), a maternal half-brother of Col. Pierre Denis de La Ronde (founder of [[Versailles, Louisiana]]), who commanded the Louisiana [[militia (United States)|militia]]'s Third Regiment during the battle.<ref>[http://www.lahistory.org/site21.php Pierre Denis de la Ronde, ''fils''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925003659/http://www.lahistory.org/site21.php |df=mdy-all |date=2016-09-25}} at the ''Dictionary of Louisiana Biography'', retrieved April 10, 2017.</ref> The [[United States|American]] forces under Major General [[Andrew Jackson]] defeated the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|British]] forces (led by brevet Lieutenant General Sir [[Edward Pakenham]]). On [[Andrew Jackson]]'s orders, the Chalmette plantation was completely destroyed during the battle to prevent the British from using it for cover.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

[[File:Chalmette Battlefield Monument.jpg|thumb|Chalmette Battlefield Monument|left]]
The battlefield is preserved as a [[National monument (United States)|national monument]] complete with [[visitor center]], and the [[Chalmette National Cemetery]] is adjacent. Since the mid-1970s, the site has been part of the [[Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve]], a multi-site National Park Service property with its headquarters located in the [[French Quarter]] of [[New Orleans]].

The [[Greek Revival]]-style plantation house next to the Chalmette battlefield, named the Malus-Beauregard House, was built in 1830 and is open to the public.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.experienceneworleans.com/chalmette-battlefield-beauregard.html|title=Chalmette Battlefield & Beauregard House - Experience New Orleans!|website=experienceneworleans.com}}</ref>

From 1951 to 1983, Chalmette was the location of a major [[Kaiser Aluminum]] plant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/jom/0202/binczewski-0202.html|title=The Energy Crisis and the Aluminum Industry: Can We Learn from History?|last=Binczewski|first=George J. |date=February 2002|publisher=[[JOM (journal)|JOM Magazine]] |df=mdy-all|access-date=2014-05-31}}</ref>

===Hurricane Katrina===
[[Image:Hurricane-Katrina-Chalmette-oil-spill-arial-EPA.jpg|thumb|right|Hurricane Katrina: aerial photo of oil spill in Chalmette, showing oil slick on streets (September 2005).]]On August 29, 2005, a {{convert|25|ft|m|adj=on}} [[storm surge]] from [[Hurricane Katrina]] overflowed through the [[Mississippi River–Gulf Outlet Canal]] (commonly known as MRGO) — a commercial channel dug by the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] in the 1960s — and flooded most of the town, with waters as high as 14 to 15&nbsp;feet (4.9&nbsp;m) in some places.<ref name="coeur">
   "Six months Later&mdash;A Vision of Chaos, Determination,
   Courage, and Generosity" (report), Heidi (health care worker),
   St. Bernard Parish Medical HHS Clinic, Chalmette, LA, webpage:
   [http://www.affairedecoeur.com/www2/articles/Heidi.html ADC] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927062252/http://www.affairedecoeur.com/www2/articles/Heidi.html |date=September 27, 2007}}:
   notes how flood trapped people in attics, in standing water.
</ref> As a result, Chalmette was extensively swamped and destroyed. A majority of the population evacuated shortly before the storm hit, but there was still significant loss of life.

As of October 25, 2005, most of the buildings were deemed unsalvageable. Despite findings published by the U.S. [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]], the toxic chemicals in the water from local oil refineries have been postulated to be an ongoing health hazard by several civilian ecological groups. Especially notable was the large [[oil spill]] originating in Chalmette's [[Murphy Oil]] facility, where the storm surge knocked over a huge oil tank (''see photo below'').<ref name="Meiners">{{cite news |last1=Meiners |first1=Joan |last2=The Times-Picayune |last3=The Advocate |title=How Oil Companies Avoided Environmental Accountability After 10.8 Million Gallons Spilled |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-oil-companies-avoided-environmental-accountability-after-10.8-million-gallons-spilled |access-date=December 29, 2019 |work=ProPublica |date=December 27, 2019}}</ref>

{{nowrap|The parish administrative}} headquarters served as the site for a [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) [[trailer park]] for numerous civil servants who were laboring in the rebuilding effort. A year later, parish employees were still working shifts around the clock to bring the community back to life.

Another center in the rebuilding effort was centered at the church of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, which served the congregations of the seven other Roman Catholic parishes as well as the main office of [[Catholic Relief Services]]. It also served as the only place to hold funerals for the first 12 months after Katrina.

Deputies working for the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff stated in early December 2005 that the oil tank floated in the flood. When the water receded, the tank settled on uneven ground. Its structural integrity was compromised, and then the oil spill occurred. By late November, the Murphy facility was functional, as was a small cluster of businesses around the intersection of Paris Road and St. Bernard Highway, on the least damaged River side of Chalmette. The devastated residential areas farther away from the River were open during daylight hours, for residents to salvage belongings from their damaged homes. The majority of people staying in Chalmette full-time were living in trailers, which began to be supplied by FEMA or private enterprises on October 12; although many who had been promised [[FEMA trailer]] housing were still waiting as late as March 2006, seven months after the hurricane.

"Camp Premier," renamed "Camp Hope," was established as a base camp for the community's rebuilding efforts, facilitating the work of relief organizations, the National Guard, and private individuals. As of August 2007, the camp is located at P.G.T. Beauregard Middle School and operated by [[Habitat for Humanity]], to provide for relief volunteers in St. Bernard Parish. Other organizations, such as the [[SBP (nonprofit organization)|St. Bernard Project]], have also participated in the rebuilding of Chalmette, from distributing supplies, to clearing debris, to repairing damaged houses.

The Chalmette Battlefield was also partially flooded in low-lying areas, destroying the visitor center, which has since been rebuilt.

===Gradual recovery===
[[Image:NemesisChalm19Feb06F.jpg|thumb|280px|right|Mardi Gras 2006 in Chalmette: float #10 "The FEMA Ship"]]

[[St. Bernard Parish]] has celebrated [[Mardi Gras]] with parades in Chalmette. In February 2006, the [[krewe]] of the ''Knights of Nemesis'' held a parade, past many buildings still in ruins, along the streets of Chalmette.

As of early 2008, many businesses have returned to the area, schools have reopened, although the population remains significantly below pre-Katrina levels.

Due to Hurricane Katrina, the St. Bernard Parish School Board succeeded in getting a school open despite considerable difficulties, including telling FEMA that it would not wait for the agency. The parish opened the St. Bernard Unified School as a K-12 school in late 2005.

With the opening of the 2006–2007 school year, the Unified school reverted to [[Chalmette High School]] and now houses grades 9-12. The former Andrew Jackson High School has been repaired and now houses grades 6–8. Trist Middle School houses grades 6 through 8.

The Catholic and private school sector was lost to Katrina. The [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans]] has consolidated all local schools into one, on the Our Lady of Prompt Succor campus. It has grades PK-8.