I am a Katrina survivor still in need of my own home and furnishings.  I was a Middle School Mathematics instructor who evacuated from New Orleans on Sunday, August 28, 2005 to the Memphis area with my husband and Shih-Tzu puppy.  We had only been married 6 months before the disaster occurred. Our home and all of its contents were completely destroyed including my automobile.  The destruction and life changing and life challenging moments did not end with the hurricane. One reason Katrina had such a paralyzing effect on me is because I was caught off guard by the magnitude of Katrina’s destruction. Being born and raised there, I’ve dealt with hurricanes all of my life and never really believed that the entire city of New Orleans could be under water.

On Monday, August 29, 2005, I was sitting in my sister’s home, watching television. As I watched the National News reports about the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, I was looking at my city, the town I grew up in, the home that I lived in, the schools I attended, the church that I attended, and was utterly flabbergasted. When it was apparent that the Levee Systems had been compromised beyond repair and the Eastern area of the city was completely underwater, it was difficult to fully understand, let alone accept.  However, because I lived in the 9thWard of New Orleans, I realized early on that I had lost everything I owned.  Needless to say this realization caused an enormous amount of trepidation and anxiety. I wept profusely and most times uncontrollably. I watched people dying in the Superdome because of lack of food and water. This was a time where surely my faith was shaken.  I could even go as far as to say, I was angry with God. Thank God I had a praying sister who encouraged me. She told me that she would be there to help me get through it. She and all my “Uplifters” Sunday School sisters embraced me, prayed unceasingly with me and for me.

Trying to grasp the magnitude of my situation was overwhelming. I began experiencing a heavy pressure in my chest and constant palpitations and flutters.   On Tuesday, August 30, 2005, I was taken to the Emergency Room at Methodist Hospital. In the Emergency Room I was given Oxygen and placed on a Heart monitor. Additionally, I had Blood work done including a CBC.  Also an EKG was done. After being examined by the ER physician, he consulted with a cardiologist then decided to admit me into the hospital and schedule a Cardiac Catheterization. Further, I was treated with Lopressor and an IV with Magnesium drip.  Regularly throughout the night, my vitals were taken and also blood to check my enzyme levels.

The following day I had an Echocardiogram Ultrasound done to check for Mitrovalve Prolapse. I remained under constant observation and continued to receive medications. The next day, the cardiologist performed the Cardiac Catheterization procedure to determine if the blood vessels in my heart were clogged. Fortunately, the doctor did not find any blockages. I was later released from the hospital.  However, I remained under observation. I was instructed to wear a heart monitor for thirty days to record the activity from the symptoms. Since there were no observable physical conditions causing the palpitations, it was determined that the stress and anxiety resulted directly from the circumstances of Hurricane Katrina. For the two-day hospitalization, I incurred medical costs of $25,480.

 So, in summary here’s my Katrina experience:

- We had ten feet of flood water in our home for weeks after the Hurricane.
- Since our New Orleans home and insurance were in my ex-husband’s name, I was subject to no recovery of my personal property loss 
- My puppy was forced to live tied up in the garage-the family I’m living with doesn’t allow pets inside the home. - I relied on help from the Memphis Humane Society to provide food and medication for my puppy
- Two days after the hurricane, I was hospitalized. For the 1st time in my life I underwent a hospital stay and a surgical procedure – heart catherization and have amassed medical expenses in excess of $25,000.
- One month later, my newlywed husband began an affair, at his new job of about 3-weeks, with a married colleague. They’re both high school teachers.
- My ex-husband abandoned me taking the FEMA housing benefit/funds while I was still under doctor’s care – wearing a heart monitor; without employment or transportation, etc.

My life now has no resemblance to my life pre-Katrina. There’s no familiarity.  This devastation far surpasses losing only material items. I have only my faith in God’s restoration. With that, I went to work every day to help teach someone else’s child, while holding on to the hope that my help will come soon. That is, help to rebuild my life to some measure of normalcy with life’s basic necessities.  I attempted on several occasions to elicit aid from FEMA to secure housing. My requests were repeatedly denied. 

In the past ten years since being displaced by the Katrina disaster, and after losing everything I owned, including my home, my vehicle, and all of my personal belongings and marriage I have unfortunately not been able to reestablish a minimal independence nor afford to replace my home and other personal property. Regrettably this disaster has had a long-lasting devastating effect on my life and I am still trying to manage recovering from it. Now on this 10-year anniversary, I have garnered the courage to ask for help.  It is normal for me to respond to helping others in need, but it is totally out of character for me to ask for help.  But here it is, I am asking for your help to finally move into a furnished home of my own. I welcome and appreciate your kindness.

“Thank God, I don’t look like what I’ve been through”,
Grateful Katrina Survivor