4.
Four years ago, thousands of families were bracing for the worst. Hurricane Katrina was about to make landfall. They were evacuating as far as possible, facing “No Vacancy” signs at hotels for hundreds of miles. They were crowded 10, 12, even 15 people deep in friends’ apartments. They were packing provisions in their attics just in case.
August 29, 2005. 9:38 a.m. The levees broke. 80% of New Orleans flooded. More than 1,800 people lost their lives.
As I have worked for a rebuilding organization the past nine months, I have heard hundreds of horrifying tales from the homeowners who witnessed it firsthand. These are two of the most compelling:
A Ninth Ward homeowner evacuated on Aug. 28, convinced by her neighbors that they would only be gone for one day. She packed one change of clothes as some of her Ninth Ward friends taunted her for leaving. On Aug. 29, she spoke on the phone to a friend who had stayed behind, who laughed at this homeowner for leaving when it was “just a bit of rain.” Just then her friend screamed and said the levees had broken and a huge wall of water was coming toward her. The phone line went dead.
A St. Bernard Parish homeowner stayed behind, unable to evacuate because she had to work double shifts at her job. When the levees broke, her home quickly flooded with 14 feet of water. She broke a hole in the roof with a hatchet and climbed up, only to find some of her other neighbors in the same position. Power lines fell around her as water reached the bottom of the roof. She heard a banging noise for eight hours straight…It was other neighbors trying to break through their roofs and be rescued. Eventually, the banging just stopped.
It is because of this that Project: Katrina Hope exists. But it is also because there are millions of people who have not yet forgotten about the Gulf Coast. The volunteer efforts continue. With hope and determination, the region is coming back. Four years later, things are still rough. I have seen and experienced this firsthand. But these people deserve to be home. They have been through enough. The volunteers are one of the few saving graces down here.
I created a campaign called 4 NOLA a few months back. It is all about the positive reasons to rebuild New Orleans, and it was inspired by the amazing people with whom Project: Katrina Hope works. So, as we approach this fourth anniversary, I ask: Are you 4 NOLA?
With hope,
Gretchen
Posted on August 27th, 2009 by Gretchen Wieland
Filed under: From Gretchen
Leave a Reply