Katrinka

So many stories....

Our friend Greg lived with his family in the Lakeview neighborhood, a few blocks from the 17th St. levee failure.
He, his wife and 2 youngest children prepared to evacuate the day before the storm. Their 21 year old son refused to leave.
Greg's wife insisted on leaving a hatchet in the attic for their son, who was adamant about staying.

He was sleeping when the levee broke.
The flood water rose from floor to ceiling in 10 minutes.
Luckily, he awoke to the sound of rushing water and was able to get into the attic and hack his way out through the roof.
Once out, a neighbor picked him up off the roof in a small boat.
He spent the rest of the day helping to pull bodies out of the water....

There were many local heroes who took care of others, at peril to their own health, after the storm.
All the doctors, nurses, police, firefighters and coast guard that stayed were heroes, as well as many other creative souls who came up with ways to move downed trees to unblock streets, deliver water and carry out innumerable necessary acts for the greater benefit.
There were also some people who stayed, burned and looted people's private property and tried to hinder rescue operations.
Our local paper, The Times-Picayune, kept publishing, despite all the difficulties.
Their web address is http://www.nola.com.