The Rebuilding of New Orleans, (Part 1)

When the Saints and New Orleans Came Marching Back

Everyone knows what havoc and destruction Hurricane Katrina wrought on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. in 2005. But, when you live in relative shelter from nature's monster storms as we do here on the West Coast, it may be hard to fathom the full extent of this natural disaster.  Many of those affected by Hurricane Katrina are still displaced, still searching for their roots, still trying to put the pieces back together.

I wanted to find out more about the rebuilding effort. The fact that we as a nation and the world’s greatest power could not respond adequately is a hard pill to swallow. But, whenever there is disaster, there is a uniting of people. I have seen that myself. In 1965 I was in New York during the Big Blackout. My dad walked from Manhattan to the Bronx, my husband slept on a table in a restaurant. My neighbors helped one another climb out of elevators. There was truly a feeling of "brotherhood" in NYC.

I was in Northern California in 1989 when the Loma Prieta earthquake hit. Again, I felt the compassion of the nation and the world and the coming together of everyone in the SF Bay Area as we all looked for ways to deal with unfolding, shocking, reality.

I had just left NYC on 9/9/01 after attending my father's funeral and thus just missed the 911 horror. We have all seen the images; we have all felt the pain, the fear, and the camaraderie in the wake of disaster.

Having never been to New Orleans I have no point of reference. But there are many who have a thorough understanding of the far-reaching implication and effects of Hurricane Katrina, not only on New Orleans, but on the Gulf Coast as a whole. They led the way for me as I sought to understand the aftermath of Katrina and the outreach of three organizations: the NFL, the New Orleans Saints, and Rebuilding Together.

It was an experience I will not soon forget.