Remembering Katrina

Hurricane Katrina is one of those top-5 events of things that occur in your lifetime where you remember where you were, what you were doing, and what you were feeling when it happened.

I remember I had just retured to Howard for my sophomore year. I was living in this tiny single room in Meridian Hill hall. Classes had been in for a few weeks. I of course watched The Weather Channel every morning so I could dress accorindingly and that was when I first remember hearing of the tropical storm that was headed for the gulf. I remember watching the chaos and fear that was developing in the Gulf Coast and of course praying we wouldn't have rain in DC like there usually is when a tropical storm hit in the south.

The days following Katrina I saw things I never thought I would see in America and I honestly did cry a few times as I watched the people at the Convention Center begging for help. I watched CNN as Anderson Cooper walked the desolate streets, stopping to check dead bodies on the roads and talking with people that were just wandering, trying to find their way. I teared up seeing families on their roofs trying to flag down helicopters to save them from the oppressive heat, and hearing stories about all of the bodies floating around in the streets.

I am happy to see that we have come so far in 5 years from Katrina and I hope that I never have to see Americans suffering not only from a terrible natural disaster but from a government that has abandoned them.

For the 5 year anniversary I recommend watching Spike Lee's documentary When the Levees Broke. He interviews people from all walks of life and from every area even people who aren't from the Gulf Coast who went to volunteer. It was inspiring, touching, and just a excellent film. Check out a little clip below.