My life experience surviving hurricane Katrina’s aftermath

It all started August 28, 2005. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was a student at FREDERICK .A. DOUGLASS High School located in the ninth ward. I was in the tenth grade. I was only in school for a week because the school year had just started. I had remembered hearing about hurricane Katrina all that week, but I didn’t think it was going to come towards our way. I remembered hearing my teacher right after the bell rang for us to go home say “have a nice, safe weekend see you on Monday”. I had no idea that, that was going to be the last day I see my teacher, my school, my classmates, friends, and neighborhood.

When I got home from school that day I saw people on the news evacuating to get away from the storm. I personally did not take it seriously because the last time they said evacuate, everybody did but, no storm came. Later on that night I saw New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin on the news, saying that it was a mandatory evacuation, everyone had to leave because hurricane Katrina was going to be a deadly storm. So the next day me and my mom family evacuated with my sister and her two kids and husband to a hotel out in Metairie, La.

After the storm was over we thought we could go home but, that’s when our nightmare began we found out that the levee’s broke which caused a huge surge to rush in which caused the water to rise instead of going down which left people stranded on roof tops, in attics and shelters for days without food, and water it was miserable.

Seeing what I saw during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina was a nightmare. Seeing people suffer was an ache to my heart. It’s a shame to see that people in the United States was treated like this. I hope that not another person has to go through miserable, sad experience like this.

Going through this experience has taught me a lot about life. You shouldn’t take anything for granted. Just be blessed that you have a roof over your head, cloths on your back and food in your stomach and be grateful that you have a family that loves, because I know I blessed. You should also live every as if it’s your last cause your not promised tomorrow. This article goes to all those who have survived the devastation of hurricane Katrina and Rita. May god bless you all. To those who have lost their lives due to hurricane Katrina and Rita may you rest in peace, you will never be forgotten, and you’ll always have a place in my heart. Rest in peace.