08/29/2025
I can’t believe it’s been 20 years
People ask me about my experience with Katrina and I say “my family made it out before the storm and we were ok” before quickly changing the subject. The truth is we were one of the many families in the Superdome. We walked into the stadium not knowing that this experience would shape our lives forever, good and bad. People in New Orleans are used to making the best out of a sh*tty situation so the first day or two just felt like a “we are in this together so let’s have some fun”, but that ended very quickly when we realized the seriousness of the situation. Before smartphones everything was word of mouth and it was hard to get answers to questions. Military MREs and water bottles replaced whatever snacks and food you brought with you to “wait it out”. The clothes on your back were literally all you had. After a couple days with no food or sleep, I was waiting in a line that was more like a crowd for a bus headed to somewhere in Texas. Being plucked from the only place I call home in the worst way possible. I got separated from my family and had a severe panic attack and it felt like someone was standing on my chest. So when people casually ask about my Katrina experience as if it’s small talk, I put on a fake brave face and lie while trying not to replay these moments in my head. On the bright side I made a ton of friends in Texas, focused on mental health issues and my appreciation for New Orleans grew more than I can imagine. For anyone who had a similar experience, it’s not your fault and we are loved. For everyone else, don’t just be casually bringing up potential traumatic experiences like you’re asking about my favorite po-boy 😂❤️💪🏾