OFCI Report Remembers: Hurricane Katrina, 8 years After (My Story)

I remember it all as if it were yesterday. August 28 the night before the storm I was the closing manager that night at Wendy's. We had no access to a television or radio to hear the news, but we knew how business had died down significantly that things had gotten real serious. After a little time had pass, we served a few customers here and there, but that soon came to a halt and looking at the clouds, things seem to be looking seriously wrong in the atmosphere. One of the other managers concerned with me and the crew got on the phone with the district manager and explained to him the scene there along with my account, and we persuaded him to allow us to close the store early and get out of there in time to pack up and leave and get to safety. So we secured everything down and put the money in the safe and we left to go to our various homes. Thank God the other manager had a car (I wasn't driving just yet) and she was able to get us that she could home safely. That night when I got home we packed and headed to the hotel in which we thought we would have safety. The next morning the 29 the sky still looked of gloom but no rain had fallen just yet. Stores along canal st where we were, still were open serving and people eating, until that faint hour when everything got BLACK and the rain began to fall. Looking out the window you could see the rain fall all so fiercely and the wind blowing ever so violently as if it was a seen from a movie. Only we were not in hollywood and cameras were not rolling. I watched from my bathroom window in the hotel as everything having to do with Katrina took its course. I could see roof tiles being blown off, debris being blown to and fro, and hear the sound of the wind hitting my glass and wondered with fear if it would shatter. Then, power outage in the hotel. Now what is funny here first is that the power was on till almost 3 or 6 that morning because I was watching television up until then and then they talking bout the power was off. Which I think they cut it off because they wanted to get some people out the hotel. Also, because the power was off, this forced the occupants to camp out in the hallway. Good thing on my floor was all family and friends so we had it kinda good. One story I will never forget is when  some of us walked the floors to see the conditions of some of the other guest, we came on one floor, and you know in the closet you have the emergency light and some power outlets working....and we came upon some people cooking hot sausage on a hot plate. Only in New Orleans. So as the night went on and the rain still falling, finally the sun came up along with the damage of last night's destruction. An as we gazed upon what was to be and to come, you could see where you where that the city was no longer the same. So we rallied ourselves together and came up with a plan of action to evacuate because it was told that the hotel was shutting down and everyone had to evacuate. That being said until total evacuation, you could see people doing what they needed to do to survive, even if it meant staying in the pool to keep cool, or even using the pool water to flush the toilets. So we got our plan together and proceeded to head out and head to Texas, and as we get to the bottom floor we wind up in water knee deep. Getting to our vehicles proved adventurous, as we had some of old age and some of child age and our cars were parked a good distance and the water was steady rising, but we made it. Now we are on our way. As proceeded through the city and saw its destruction, we made it to the west bank and were on our way, but circumstances forced us to make a turn around (I am not gonna go into that, but it happened). Now, we are back on the east bank taking care of this problem and because of this issue we ran out of gas and wound up on the bridge on Claiborne and Martin Luther King and had to stay the night.  All night long you can hear people screaming for help along with people shouting about the dead bodies floating in the water. In my mind I was thinking, I still had the keys for Wendy's, we could go and stay there for the night, but about time that thought came up for consideration the water had risen half way up the bridge, so trapped we were. Morning came, and we had survived the night, Thank God. One of the cars still had gas left so a few of us traveled across the river to see if we can find some type of shelter until this all blows over. An as we drove across the bridge, all you could see for miles was destruction, and water. Steel that was strong, bent by wind even stronger. Places of business and homes destroyed. The New Orleans we once new was no longer. So we made it to West Wego and came upon a hotel that was open and inquired of any vacancies. At first we were told no because the rooms were reserved for work crews coming in to help. But then Thank God, after a few hours of waiting and praying, rooms became available. So we went back and got the rest of the family and started our journey after Katrina there at the hotel. As the days went along the hotel  provided us with food, they had clean water and electricity, and it was like a small community because everyone shared and pitched in. Yes I had to do some security work at night along with others that had to either clean or do something to earn their keep. One of the most memorable moments I will never forget was having to wash my clothes in a bucket because the washing machines did not work. Others had to do it also whether in the sink, the tub or the bucket everyone found a way to clean their clothes. Also, we were blessed enough to be staying next door to an out of town catering company that provided food for the utility workers, so everyday they gave us some of the breakfast they had or left over box lunches...(Never Seen The Righteous Forsaken, Or It's Seed Begging Bread). I also witnessed a miscarriage of justice when the State Troopers held a guy and his mom at gun point threatening to shoot to kill, accusing them of stealing groceries from a local Walmart, mind you  the groceries were bagged...Mind you also this was 2 ft away from where I am standing. They made them at gunpoint go back to New Orleans. Now a week has passed and at first some buses had came taking you to Texas, or some where in between. we didn't take those, but with patience and prayer our cousin was able to send one of his vehicles to us filled with Gas....An off to Texas we go. Oh, I forgot to mention that while we were at the hotel we had church and nightly prayer. So we are on our way to Houston and we stop one night in Lake Charles in one of the casino's parking lot to give the drivers some rest because it was kind of late. Me and my uncle go in the casino and I won 200 bucks... Fast Forward the next day and we are in Houston. We meet up with other relatives that were already there that left before the storm, and blessedly we were able to find a place which was a brand new Senior Citizen Apartment Complex that had just opened up, and had vacancies, and they welcomed us and a few other evacuees with open arms. We got some nice 2 bedroom apartments, each room with its own bathroom, brand new furniture and I was even able to land a job doing security there at the complex at night to make some money. An I finally got my drivers license and a car. Fast Forward to 2008, Mom was blessed to become Director of the School for which she was working and going to Church and became a member, I made money working and we were blessed to purchase a home here in Texas. Now we have made many trips back to New Orleans, and the one thing that always shocks me is the people still rebuilding or trying to rebuild. Still a lack of resources as a grocery store or mall in some areas. You have to drive real far to get to one. And still some of the neighborhoods looks as if Katrina hit it the day before. Now I understand Rome wasn't built in a day, and it is going to take some time for things to get truly back to what we knew as normal. But my question is....are the powers that be really concerned about getting back there or just the bottom line, the mighty dollar at the expense of the people going without. Now I have to admit some of the changes done to the city that I have seen last time I was there look great, but what about the neighborhood that need change also...and the most. I Remember Katrina, and all she has done...And the City is coming back from what it endured through the Literal Storm. ...Whether it was a blessing or not to be moved to Texas we are here thanks to Katrina.... I am Grateful for where the storm has brought us to, but also wax nostalgia when I see documentaries about New Orleans, and Television Shows. August 29, 2005 will always be a day to remember, but also a day and time I Will Never Forget....Happy Anniversary Katrina (If You Want To Call It That)....