Mother - age 29
1 boy - age 2
2 girls - age 13 and 5

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in Housing Authority in Marksville, LA

IT WAS TERRIFYING TO LEAVE A PLACE THAT I CALLED HOME

Father - age 18
3 girls - age 14 months, 28 (cousin) and 10 months (cousin)

Originally from Poplarville, MS
Staying in Ocean Springs, MS

Adopted by Ramagli-GMAC Realtors in Fairless Hills, PA
YEAH! - Thank you!

Elishia was 2 weeks old.  Me, her and her mother were living at her mothers parents.  At 10 PM the night after the storm they put us out.  They said it was because of the damage to the house but they were living in it.  Since then we have moved from place to place, never knowing for sure if we could stay there more than a night or two. Me and my daughters mother have gone our seperate ways and Elishia is with me.  My cousin, Shelli, had at least 5 feet of water in her house during the storm.  Since then she is in the process of adopting a baby and has repaired her house enough to live in, so she is letting me and Elishisa live with her.  We have only been with Shelli 1 week. I am in the process of gaining legal custody of my daughter and looking for work.  It is hard since I don't have transportation so I hope to find something that is close to Shellis work schedule so she can drop me off and pick me up at the end of the shift.  I don't really need anything for myself except a jacket but I would love to have toys for Elishia and Katie for Christmas, and Shelli, who lost everything, could sure use some kitchen stuff.  Mostly containers, like tupperware, for storing food and something to bake food in for us.

Mother - age 22
2 boys - age 5 and 23 (cousin)

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in Dallas, TX

I left New Orleans the day before the hurricane.When we ran out of money we didn't have no where to go.We stayed at somebodys house in Alexandria,LA.I finally got reunited with my family a week after the storm in Baton Rouge,LA.We left from there and came to Texas and we been here since then.It's hard to adjust to this new life.I would like to go back home one day but not right now.

Mother - age 43
1 boy - age 19

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in Dallas, TX

Me and my family was trapped in the storm.We were trapped by water for five days.We were hungry with nothing to drink.When we were rescued we were brought to San Antonio,TX.

Mother - age 34
Father - age 34
1 girl - age 14
2 boys - age 7 and 1

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in Donaldsonville, LA

It was very hard for me to leave New Orleans, It hit my family very hard we are all over the place and we are always was together.  But I think the Lord Jesus that nothing didn't happend to anyone of us. It is very hard when your whole family is leaving in one room and you are trying to keep your newborn quiet so the others in the house could sleep. But we me it 1yr strong.

Mother - age 29
Father - age 31
1 girl - age 8
1 boy - age 2
female - age 58 (grandmother)

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in New Orleans, LA

The sunday befor the storm my family and I evacuated to Tyler tx. On monday after the storm hit we then realized that things was pretty bad. We was not able to get in touch with our parents,family and friend untill 5 days later. after getting in touch with friend we then found out that we had no home or memories to go back to. Now its 1 yr and 3 months and we still wait on a trailor and to get our home back in living condition

Mother - age 35
Father - age 37
2 girls - age 1 and 11

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in San Antonio, TX

We were in the New Orleans Hilton Riverside until September 1, 2005. We were bused to a Hilton in Dallas, Texas first, then we found permanent shelter in San Antonio, Texas. The day that we were being bused out of New Orleans I fell and fractured my tail bone. My balance is not very stable because I wear an artificial leg. The only gift I want for Christmas is to see my daughter smiling brightly on Christmas morning. If you can help me with that I will be the most blessed mom ever. Thank You & God Bless

Mother - age 26
2 boys - age 5 and 2

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in Dallas, TX

It was very long and disgusting.

Mother - age 55
Father - 56
1 girl - age 22

Originally from Bay St. Louis, MS
Staying in FEMA trailer in Bay St. Louis, MS

We left the day before Katrina , went to Baldwin Al.and returned the following day after Katrina struck. We had to try and get home, there was no traffic on the road. It was shocking to see houses, boats and every power line laid across the roads, trees were over turn. We couldn't get in touch with our sons and their families who also live on the coast, phones were dead. I felt my children were safe and knew they would have left too,  but was afraid for our pets which we left indoors hoping they would be safe. Our potbellie pig Peaches, we locked her in the utility room, two small dogs and a kitten were in other rooms. As we were still miles from home and saw the damage from the storm. I felt sick about my piggy I had a feeling she was dead on Monday, I boarded the door where she was so she could get out. I felt panic as we got to my neighborhood. I knew Peaches was gone then. We lost everything and had trees down everywhere, all our furniture, belongings gone. We had three feet of water in our home. As we came inside all I throught of was  Peaches. There was no grunts coming from where she was. Only a stream of blood still flowed from under the door. She fought so hard the door frame was torn from the wall but she could not get out. She drowned and got cut up in the process. Other pets made it. We were without power till late October and no water. I hope I never live through another storm like that. We still are working on our house and can't move in yet. We hope to get it finish by Christmas.

Mother - age 24
Father - age 24
1 boy - age 3
1 female - age 48 (Gramma)

Originally from Picayune, MS
Staying in Carrier, MS

left the day before the storm came back 2 weeks later and the trailor we were living in had trees thrue it lived in a camper for 2 and a half months the the land lord we had put us here now we are 2200.00 back in rent cause fema stopped helping and my moms husband left for another woman

Mother - age 42
1 boy - age 7

Originally from Terrytown, LA
Staying in Terrytown, LA

Mother - age 38
2 girls - age 12 and 9

Originally from Gretna, LA
Staying in Gretna, LA

Mother - age 52
1 girl - age 11

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in shelter in New Orleans, LA

Mother - age 74
2 boys - age 8 and 9

Originally from Davant, LA
Staying in Plaquemine, LA

As devasting as it was, my experience evacuating was not so bad.  We arrived in Plaquemine, LA where I am currently residing Awaiting for assistance to rebuild my house in Davant, LA. 

Mother - age 26
1 girl - age 5
1 boy - age 2

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in New Orleans, LA

my mother asked me to stay uptown with her because she had a two story house. i stayed with my two sisters, two cousins, my mother, and 3 nieces, three nephews, and my son. my daughter had evacuated with her godmother.  after the storm all was calm until i woke the next morning and saw that water was rising and we did not have a clue as to what was going on.  eventually we had to go out and look for the help from the coast gaurd that they said were on claiborne ave but when we got there we saw other families looking for the same so called help and there was none. by this time the water was waist deep. my little sister and i returned home hopeless.  that night we put our kids down and prayed because we did not know if we were going to make it through the night. to me i felt like i was on the titantic about to go down. we were rescued after having to dangle the children out of the window me and the children were taken to saftey. two  weeks later i located the rest of my family in houston. i returned to new orleans in march and have since repaired my house and my kids and i are back home where our hearts are.

Mother - age 38
1 girl - age 17

Originally from Jefferson, LA
Staying in Jefferson, LA

My evacuation plan,I left Sunday morning about 11:00am my family and I and arrived by my family 3:30am Monday morning.

Mother - age 36
3 girls - age 14, 11 and 7
1 female - age 61 (grandmother)

Originally from Pass Christian, MS
Staying in FEMA trailer in Picayune, MS

The day before the storm we evcuated to Picayune,MS. We stayed in an office building for 3 days, until we were able to get back to our house. Once we were able to get home we discovered that our roof had leaked and everything we owned was wet and mildewed. We stayed there for 2 months with no power or water. FEMA finally moved us into a 24 ft travel trailer where we stayed for over a year. We're now living in a full size FEMA trailer in the same area. Beacuse my mother is fully disabled, I'm unable to get a full time job at this point. I really need help for my children for Christmas. Anyone that can see it in their hearts to help us this Christmas in any way we would greatly appriciate. Thank you and God Bless!

Mother - age 26
Father - age 26
1 boy - age 21 months

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in shelter in Smyrna, GA

One day before Katrina my dad forced me and my son to leave New Orleans and go with him to Baton Rouge, Louisiana by a friend's house. He, his wife, and my neices and nephew joined us as we arrived at a very small 2 bedroom house with two other people. Although we were not in New Orleans when the hurricane hit, we still experienced a lot of damage, power outages and shortages of food. I had no clue of where my family and friends were or even if they survived. As i watched the news and watched water rise in my (and other family members) neighborhoods, i began to cry. A lot of emotional damage started at that point and i became very depressed. I tried calling everybody i knew but the networks were very busy. My mother, brother and 2 sisters were rescued off of a roof and sent to the Superdome and later seperated. My brother constanstly called my dad and told him that he should have came to Baton Rouge but it was far too late. He complained how hungry and lonely he was and how unsanitary the Superdome became. I could go on and on but i'm getting emotional even now - Sorry! It was a sad time in my life and it's still a struggle for my family right now. Some of my friends are still nowhere to be found and i can only hope the best. I've been to a few funerals, including one of my sisters that was rescued, but life must goes on. God has truly been good to me so i'll just take this whole experience and learn from it, although sometimes it's hard.

Mother - age 38
1 girl - age 17

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in Jefferson, LA

My family and I left before the hurricane took place, which was at 11 AM Sunday morning. We headed out to Pearland, Texas to stay with one of our family members and we made it there around 3:30 AM Monday morning.

I've submitted an application before, but I submitted the wrong formal address.

Mother - age 35
Father - age 32
1 girl - age 13
2 boys - age 17 and 18

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in New Orleans, LA

I was up watching the news telling others that the hurrican looks like its going to hit New Orleans.I called my two sisters to see what they where going to do.One made plans to leave with use that saturday Aug.27,2005.The other sister keep saying its not going to hit and if it does we will go to the projects where my aunt works at.Telling me they will make it in the projects on the thrid floor.Lots of people lift there homes to go to stay in those buildings thinking they were the strongest in the city.Before we lift my husband and i went to my sister house i told here dont stay its going to be bad. She just dont want to leave New Orleans like many more.Call around to see if other family members were going to leave.After all my hole family is from the lower 9th ward born and raise.Once the flood gates close and your in the 9th ward your stock.My hole family lift the 9th ward, to try and make it in the project.My husband and i tryed calling when we made it but no phones were working in New Orleans.My hole family ended up in the superdome.Made it to Baytown Texas,made it to a red cross shelter never been in a shelter before but it was alright.Every day the new come by to ask question about were your from, which part of the city and when you say your from the 9th ward they come by just lookig for you,wanting to interview my family.After about 3weeks of staying a the red cross shelter the staff woke up everyone at about 12:30am to say this is the last nigt.We all were scared after all we had just lost everything new no one in texas.So here comes this angel by the name of Brother Danny Biddy, the pastor of OLD RIVER BAPTISH CHURCH.He has this big church with a building in the back that was suppose to be sunday school building.He put each family in a classroom.We sit it up like one big bed roomroom.Brother Danny provided everything we needed it was great.We live there for 3months, and then he got each family there own apartement.Today i still keep in touch with brother Danny for he is truly my angle.I even got to leav

Karen Wyont a member of Old River who took in my son a treated him like he was hers think you so much.The schools in New Orleans were not open yet.I just think god that he sent me there to Baytown Texas.

Mother - age 28
Father - age 29
1 girl - age 8

Originally from Gulfport, MS
Staying in Gulfport, MS

ITS WAS LIFE CHANGING FOR MY WHOLE FAMILY NOW WE ARE ALL LOCATED IN DIFFRENT STATES. WE JUST MOVED BACK TO MISSISSIPPI.

Mother - age 27
Father - age 32
2 boys - age 7 and 5

Originally from Gulfport, MS
Staying in Gulfport, MS

we were a total lost we were in a apartment and the water started rising and the wall caved in we were living in a fema trailer and we just got an apartment a week ago.

Mother - age 30
1 female - age 30
3 boys - age 11, 6 and 5
1 female - age 15 (cousin)

Originally from Chalmette, LA
Staying in Dallas, TX

we evacuated the day before the storm, and every town we passed through, katrina hit it. we were on the bridge 1-10e bridge that collapsed. the water was very strong and it was hitting the bottom of the bridge. all we thought was that we were gonna die on this bridge. i asked god please not to let us die like this. i don't know what happened, but he answered our prayers and got us off the bridge. we slept at numerous rest stops and my kids was hysterical at what was going on around them. we finally wound up in a motel by the name of best value in nacogdoches tx., and they were so cruel to us that we couldn't stay there any longer. we went to the rec center there and the people there were so sympathetic to what was going on with us in that time of need. a lady talked to me and then gave me 25.00 dollars and told me don't ever be afraid to take some kind of help from someone, anyone in your time of sorrow. i lost my mother's car, something that was so precious to me. my mom died and my grandmother died in 2004, and it really killed me inside. after their deaths, i went from being homeless, to pawning all my valuables for us to eat. melissa went to her father to see if he would take us in, but he refused to. finally, we found an apartment in chalmette, la. and i said that if we can help it, we won't be moving no time soon. although it was an apartment, it was finally home for my kids. they were the one's that i wanted to be safe more than myself. i even asked my family to take them in while we were homeless, and noone stepped up to the plate. my kids remember this and they still talk about it fron time to time. we had just gotten everything back from the pawn shop, was on the way to giving the kids some stability in their lives and the saturday we put a refrigerator (the last thing) in the house, the next thing i know, we have to evacuate fom our home, so you know that kind of took a toll on them again. we really thought we would be able togo back, so i left my moher's car that she left me. fema told me if i didn'

Female - age 53
Male - age 47

Originally from Orlando, FL
Staying in Orlando, FL

We went through the storm in an 1875 beach cottage, we could not leave as we have 5 adopted cats and by the time my husband came home the roads were jammed.  I was back in school at MGCC and sitting at my computer tryed to find a road that could take us away from the beach and over into Texas.  I prayed please let me find a road, contra flow was in effect and we knew we were not going anywhere.  I still wake at 4:00 AM every morning, that was the time the storm was starting and the sounds of that day haunt me still. At around 6:00 we lost power and the sounds of the trees snapping and debris hitting the old cottage with 17 windows was increasing.  By 9:00 I thought I would lose my mind as fear and panic were overtook me.  10:00/12:00 it became desperate as the water started coming in from the hardwood floors and we put our animals in their cages on top of the kitchen cabinets as we tryed to find a way into the attic.  The waters kept rising and I was holding the front door as the water was trying to come through and David was holding the back door.  The windows that were boarded held and we prayed. Finally the water that had risen to 4 1/2 feet started to subside.  David took the kittys from the attic and put them back to top of the cabinets.   I knew Ellen was alone in the front house and David went to help.  Her home was destroyed and 5 foot waves were in crashing in what had been her living roo.  David went back three times to see if he could get to the upstairs that was left.  That must have been the calm of the eyewall as it began all over again.  I thougtht I heard the train coming, David told me later it was a tornado but did not have the heart to tell me.  After 12 hours we came out to find what I can only decribe as a nuclear holocaust.  We were in a debris field and everything was gone, trees broke in half and neighbors houses gone.  Our vechiles had been pushed to the sides and on the porch area which as the house floated moved everything.

We made our way to the beach only to see total destruction. Our beautiful little town destroyed bridges gone everything gone.  Days went by and we rescued dogs and cats and people who survived too banded together and shared resourses.  The helocopter flew over head as in a war zone it was surreal.  They did not stop and I stood and waved incestuly trying to let them know we were here and alive.  We had no idea were they were going.  Only after a week could we borrow a cell phone that worked to let our familys know we survived.  They let us know what was happenening in NO,LA 40 miles away.  We finally got out the first week of OCT. We bought the first Toyota that came on to the lot.  We have been in Florida for the past year and it seems Bay St. Louis has not cleared the debris from the beach.  We had leased our cottage for years and so wanted to have our lives back.  My husband was a manager at a casino and I was a student working toward a better life. I pray everyday and thank God for our lives and feel very blessed. We our now falling through the cracks and in debt we will never get out from under.  Fema arrived around the 10 days after the storm and no one even came to try and find us I even chased Air Force One as the president flew over our house low so he could see.  We are trying to get our lives back and my husband has a job now, I try not to let him know how depressed I get.

I have tryed to find help for Utilites and the Red Cross say they only help right after the diaster, the United Way, Salvation Army all say they have no more funds.  It is frustrating trying to get our lives back.  We used our 401 K and savings and credit card to survive as we knew others did not. Now everything comes due and we have nothing left.

Mother - age 28
2 girls - age 12 and 6
2 boys - age 10 and 16

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in Webster, TX

Mother - age 33
2 girls - age 14 and 12
2 boys - age 10 and 3

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in Baton Rouge, LA

it was horrible never want to go through this again

Mother - age 31
1 girl - age 14
1 boy - age 12

Originally from Vancleave, MS
Staying in Vancleave, MS

we evacuated to my father's house in alabama right before the storm hit.. i watched it all from there on the news.. i saw that our aunt was missing.. their home had filled with water and split apart.. they found her body eventually. we had (and still have) a lot of damage.. they gave us a fema trailer last winter due to the damages, no heat or a/c, and electrical problems.. but they recently took it back - even though we haven't gotten heat yet.. so we are praying it won't be too cold this winter!

we had hoped things would get better, but it's just been worse.. i have since lost my job and had to find another that pays less.. and my father passed away last month from cancer!!!

Mother - age 64
1 boy - age 15

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in Lithonia, GA

My experience was in the SUPERDOME it was very painful to see people act like animals if they had never been evacuate before.

Please help us if you can,I can use all the help i can get.I can't get around like i use to cause of my medical condition.

Mother - age 38
Father - age 36
1 boy - age 17
2 girls - age 15 and 13
2 granddaughters - age 4 and 24 months

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in Atlanta, GA

My rescue wasn't what i expected,it was unbliveable to me and my family. My family and i stayed in the SUPERDOME for a week or more. I cry cause the way people act and most of all no respect for others at all.Thank you for what you all are doing for the people who don't have anything.I'll always remember this experiences for the rest of my life.

Mother - age 27
1 girl - age 9

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in Baton Rouge, LA

Adopted by a family in
Fort Worth, TX
YEAH! - Thank you!

12/16/06

I'VE LIVED IN UPTOWN NEW ORLEANS ALL MY LIFE,THE PLACE IS ALL I KNOW AND  YOU COULD HAVE NEVER EVER TOLD ME I WOULDN'T BE  LIVING IN NEW ORLEANS, FOR THE REST OF MY DAYS .MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE FLED TO MY AUNTS HOUSE AND DIDNT EXPERIENCE THE HORRIBLE  CONVENTION CENTER AND SUPERDOME CHAOS,BUT STILL ENDURED A  TOTAL LOSS AND TRANSITIONING IS SEEMING HARDER THAN  ANTICIPATED,IVE BEEN SO DEPRESSED  TO THE POINT OF DISASTER BUT STILL  TRYING TO HANG ON,HOWEVER DESPITE THE CONSTANT STEREOTYPES, FINGER POINTING,AND LACK OF RESPECT WEVE ENCOUNTERED THROUGHOUT THIS  UNPREDICTABLE STORM THEY'RE STILL SOME SINCERE  PEOPLE  WILLING TO HELP AND WERE LOOKING FORWARD, ONE YEAR LATER STILL STRUGGLING, JUST NEEDING HELP FOR CHRISTMAS AND  WITH BASIC EVERYDAY NEEDS.THANKS K.J.

Mother - age 36
2 girls - age 12 and 5
3 boys - age 2, 17 and 16

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in Slidell, LA

when the water came we was by grand mother far 10 days  then got resued then went to houston astro drom stay there far a while then went to lee summit mo  far about 10 months now back in lousisana  thank god far that 

Mother - age 35
2 girls - age 17 and 10
3 boys - age 13, 11, 10

Originally from Kiln, MS
Staying in Kiln, MS

Female - age 59
Male - age 56

Originally from Kiln, MS
Staying in FEMA camper in Kiln, MS

we evacuated north for 1 day came home to access damaged and provide room for our family members. we came home and had a campground without electricity fore our family and friends untill presaent, we have electricity and all know, but we still haVE 4-5 FEMA CAMPERS ON OUR land

please help our mother

Mother - age 22
Father - age 36
1 boy - age 4

Originally from Kiln, MS
Staying in FEMA trailer in Kiln, MS

Mother - age 23
Father - age 33
2 boys - age 5 and 3
3 girls - age 9, 8 months and 1

Originally from Kiln, MS
Staying in Kiln, MS

Mother - age 51
Father - age 50
1 boy - age 8
1 girl - age 5
2 females - 49 (sister), 29 (niece)

Originally from Bay St. Louis, MS
Staying in Pass Christian, LA

lost my home in bay st Louis- my insurnaces won't pay my claims - I can't rebuild due to height limits...

Mother - age unknown
1 girl - age 6
1 boy - age 1

Originally from Kiln, MS
Staying in Kiln, MS

It was really hard for us.My daughter had just started Kindergarden and my son was only 3 mths old.We had a loving family in Tn to bring gas to us so we could get the children out of chaos that was around here.

Female - age 42

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in Covington, GA

I sit here over a year later and still cannot believe this truly happened! I left the city of New Orleans,La. and traveled to a wonderful town call Wynne Arkansas....

The people there were soooooooo wonderful to me! The only thing is I could not find work there! I have moved to Covington Ga.

a few months ago; to take a friend up on the offer for a place to stay while I looked for work, and try to market my new business; so far I have put in over 100 applications and have e-mailed out about 50 Resumes but no luck yet! My truck is in need of two tires and It is in need of other repairs to keep it going. I am at wits end and I would love to get a job this year as my Christmas present! I'll even take two of them.....Can U help ME??? I have even tried to launch a business to offer home and or business inventory service to the consumer(s); but I have  been unsuccessful in having enough money to market it correctly.  It has not gotten off the ground! I just wanted to provide a service to people so that they could be prepared before a disaster strikes! I wish I had had a service like this offered to me before Katrina.......... I would love to be able to purchase an enclosed trailer to tow behind my truck when I go out to customers homes or businesses. If any one has an old one that is just sitting around I could use I can work to pay for it! I would love any suggestions you may have.

Thanks, and May God Bless You This Holiday Season....

Mother - age 50
Father - age 52
3 girls - age 14, 13, 12

Originally from Amite, LA
Staying in FEMA trailer in Amite, LA

we left and went to Shreveport ,la after the Hurricane Katrina had damaged our home. we had no lights, phone or water.  we stayed with our family in shreveport for 11 days. then stayed a a hotel for 99 days, then we rented a house for 5 months. we finally got a Fema travel trailer put on our property and are presently living in it in amite, la on our damaged home property.

 we are living a Fema Travel trailer . the address of the trailer is 23157 sarah ingersoll rd amite la. we are living on my husband's workman'comp check. our income is very limited and difficult to live on.

Mother - age 40
1 girl - age 4

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in New Orleans, LA

Male - age 22

Originally from Bay St. Louis, MS
Staying in Kiln, MS

Went to Flordia

Mother - age 45
1 boy - age 16
1 girl - age 17

Originally from Bay St. Louis, MS
Staying in Bay St. Louis, MS

In need of handicap van (for wheelchair use)

Mother - age 35
1 boy - age 13
2 girls - age 9 and 5
female - age 56 (aunt)

Originally from Port Sulphur, LA
Staying in Brookhaven, MS

WE ARE FROM PLAQUEMINES PARISH LA. WE LEFT OUR HOME ON AUG 28 2005 AT 7:00 AM. THE PLAN WAS TO HEAD FOR FLORIDA SINCE EVERYONE WA GOING TO TX. HOWEVER THE TRAFFIC WAS SO BAD WHEN I GOT TO THE EXIT I NEED TO TAKE I COULD NOT GET OVER. I WAS FOLLOWING MY FATHER AND MY AUNT WITH JUST MY THREE KIDS WITH ME. WE WERE SEPERATED FOR THEM AND THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK TO DO WAS TO TAKE THE KIDS TO A SHELTER. WE STAYED AT FAITH PRE. IN BROOKHAVEN MS. THEY WERE SO GREAT TO US . WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A HOME TO GO BACK TO WE DIDNT NO WHAT TO DO . BUT THEY WERE GREAT WE STAYED AT THE CHURCH FOR 5 WEEKS. THEY HELPED US TO GET SOME CLOTHS FOR WE DIDNT HAVE BUT 3 SETS EACH. MY FAULT I NEVER THOUGHT THIS COULD EVER HAPPEN TO US. WE LOST OUR DOG, WE COULD NOT BRING HER AND THE KIDS STILL FUSS AT ME FOR THAT. AFTER THE CELL PHONES FINNALY STARTED WORKING MY DAD FINNALY FOUND US. AND CAME WERE WE WERE. I WAS SO HAPPY. SINCE THEN THINGS IN OUR LIVES ARE UP AND DOWN.

Mother - age 43
2 boys - age 14 and 5
2 girls - age 1 and 22

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in New Orleans, LA

I lived in the Lower 9th Ward with my son,daughter and her 2 children. We evacuated the Saturday before the storm to Ennis, TX where we stayed for two months.  We then went back to New Orleans because of my job, and is currently living in another house, still all together.  I lost all my personal belongings, my car, and my job temporarily.  Our previous house had water over the roof.

We are thankful that we can be together again and are trying to get back to "normal".

Mother - age 39
Father - age 37
1 girl - age 13

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in New Orleans, LA

MY WIFE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES FOR UNITED MEDICAL HOSPITAL. WE EVACUATED THE HOSPITAL THE WEDNESDAY AFTER KATRINA, BY BOAT. WE HAD 14 ELDERLY PATIENTS IN OUR CARE. WE WERE TAKEN TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, WARE IT WAS HORRIABLE. WE DECIDED THAT WE COULD ONLY STAY FOR A LITTLE WILE SO I WALK TO 1009 CAMP ST. AND COMMONDEARED TO 15 FT BOX TRUCKS.  WE LOADED THE PATIENTS NURSES ECT. AND DROVE TO RACELAND LA. ST.ANN HOSPITAL REFUSED MAJORITY OF THE PATIENTS AND CALLED THE POLICE ON US. TIRED,WITH PATIENTS ON DEATH BED WE DROVE TO TERRIBONE GENERAL IN HOUMA,THEYCENT US TO A SHELTER AT THE CIVIC CENTER. MY STORY ENDS WITH THE FACT THAT WE DID NOT LOOSE ANY PATIENTS.

Female - age 72

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in San Antonio, TX

I had to be airlifted from my apartment building to a field where other rescuees were taken. We remained there for two days before we they flew us to San Antonio.

Mother - age 27
Father - age 34
1 boy - age 11
1 girl - age 1

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying with New Orleans, LA

WE WERE STUCK AT A HOTEL WITH NO WATER OR FOOD. I WAS 6 MONTHS PREGENET AT THE TIME. IT WAS A MISERABLE TIME FOR MY FAMILY AND I. HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO TELL MY CHILDREN THERE WAS NO FOOD.

Mother - age 32
1 boy - age 11

Originally from New Orleans, LA
Staying in Labson, SC

We evacuated the day prior to Katrina with relatives to Houston, Texas. It was a rough experience since I needed to find a dialysis  center. We stayed in the shelter until we decided to move to South Carolina with friends and have been here ever since. We are currently living with friends but are in search of our own home.

Mother - age 30
5 Girls - age 8, 6, 1, 1, 3 months
Female - age 51 (mother)

Originally from Lake Charles, LA
Staying in Lake Charles, LA

We have moved for the 3rd time and God had been blessing us with a new home for my family. The house we was living we had lost alot of our stuff due to mold and mildew and termites and we had to get out of there because it wasnt an living conditions for my kids and especially the new born baby.We was living with from family to family and they had to get their house repairs and My mom and I been praying for a new home for my kids and the new baby I was bring home.God had been good to us and our health.I couldnt work due after I had my baby.My back hadnt healed and my mother couldnt work. I was hoping the angels will blesss my kids, let them have a good christmas this year.

I am deaf if u call or email ask for elaine @ 337 436 3101 or email her @pressnmyway@aol.com

Female - age 54

Originally from Bay St. Louis, LA
Staying in FEMA trailer in Bay St. Louis, LA

We were in my house it was my dad my brother his fiance and myself we stay the water got right too the porch but not own the porch. A tree fell own the house the night before but we didn't know that was what it was when we heard the noise, we found out that morning of the storm, about 9:3o the wind shifted and picked the tree up out of the roof and the tree stood straight back up,just about all my roof came off and I had a big hole where the tree had fell own top.we stayed their tell Thursday when my brother was able too get his truck started I lost my car & my sister-in-law lost her's they was floating back-in-forth in the water. We made it to Biloxi,MS by a friend and my Dad and I was starting too get sick from the heat it was so hot it would take your breath away. so my cell phone was the only one that would work some time, so i was able too reach my momma sister in Tuskegee,AL and she and her husband came and got us. my brother didn't come they later with too his stepdaughter to be I think in Nevada.

We stay with my aunt abut two and half weeks then rented a car and came back and stayed with my sister in her one bedroom apartment for about month tell we got a fema trailer