Hurricane Ida was the second most destructive hurricane to make landfall in the United States, with winds reaching up to 149mph. While many civilians were busy evacuating or hunkering down in their homes, a large population of homeless people were outside trying to obtain shelter of their own. Some made it into hotels, apartments, hospitals, and homeless shelters, while others were forced to hide behind walls and use trees to shield from the wind. The homeless story of Hurricane Ida is an interesting one—filled with tales of incredible endurance, striking survival, and a deep love of home: New Orleans, Louisiana. Episode 61.
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This is the final part in my two-part series on the homeless experience in New Orleans. In the first episode, we heard the stories of Cris, Michael, Earlene, Lo, and Adam. In this production, we hear the voices of Elton, Eric, Stephanie, and Lane. Each person had a different take on the storm, and in many cases, weathered it in their own way. Some received help from FEMA while others found it impossible to catch word of where to be at the right time.
The voices we hear in these two episodes allow those of us on the outside to gain a better understanding of what it’s like in the middle of an intense natural disaster. What’s more, we are able to get first-hand accounts of those that were on the front lines of it. We hear about how the locals helped the locals, how dark the city got during the power outages, how loud the raging wind and rain were, and how dangerous it was to navigate the storm. Having never been in a hurricane myself, I appreciated bridging the gap between what I imagine happening with what actually occurred.
A huge thank you to those who gave me their time and energy throughout this production. Your stories are real, your voices are heard. Most importantly, they are remembered.
For those interested in donating to the relief of people most seriously impacted by Hurricane Ida, I have included a link below. Donations go toward food, medical supplies, construction, and other items required by frontline workers.
Link to the donation fund: GlobalGiving Hurricane Ida Relief Fund
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Voices: Flying Cats - Homeless in a Hurricane Pt. 2