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ONE MORE KATRINA STORY
A TESTAMENT TO THE HUMAN SPIRIT
This month marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. We’re seeing documentaries and interviews on the local TV stations celebrating the event. Like many residents still living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I personally lived the event, feeling the fear and weathering it too.
I understand why we as a community might celebrate in memoriam a particular natural disaster, especially if it’s to remember those who died in it, and reminding ourselves that people helping people should be paramount in the way we live out each day. But having personally witnessed and lived through more than a few hurricanes, especially Camille and Katrina, I lack the enthusiasm others have in reliving or reviewing the images of two of the most horrific natural disasters in American history. But, once again I continue to be reminded, on this anniversary date, of the redeeming lessons learned and to be learned from such natural disasters.
With Katrina forecast to hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast, my wife left with two of our children to stay with her sister in Jackson, Mississippi. My oldest son was out of town. So, with my youngest son Philip, 15, we held down the fort — along with our family pets — a Jack Russell mutt named Jack, our cat Sadie, and our disabled rescued squirrel Chino, all of whom were housed in the upstairs bathroom during the…
