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ABOUT THIS SERIES | ||
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It's my job to visually show my circulation what is happening. I didn't go into New Orleans because my job is to cover Terrebonne Parish. I am a native of Kansas, and this was my first time photographing a hurricane.
After Hurricane Rita, the southern part of Terrebonne Parish was under water. I have never seen a flood like this. During times like this, your mind switches into "have to make the picture" mode and you kind of forget about your comfort.
I hopped onto a military truck that was taking supplies to victims. When it stopped, I hopped out into knee-high water. I didn't care. I just wanted to make images of my parish.
A reporter and I drove down the bayous. When the water came up to my door, I decided I had better not drive any farther, so we got out. Again, we were in flood waters. We walked as far as we could before the current of the flowing water was too strong. We found a man with a boat and asked for a ride. It was quite the feeling to be floating in a boat where we had been driving in a car less than 24 hours earlier. But I saw myself as the "eyes of the community." Many of the people on high ground couldn't see the damage caused from the floods. That's why I thought it was important to show what was happening just a few miles away.
After Hurricane Katrina, many New Orleans evacuees were living in Houma shelters. Many of the evacuees had no idea where their family members were. They got separated while being bused to safety. I wanted to help them but didn't know how. I came up with the idea of using my photography to help bring families together. I made portraits of evacuees who were missing family and posted those images on several Web sites.
It wasn't much, but it gave the people hope. I don't know if it brought any families together, but I know it brought a smile to some faces during such a tragic time.
EPILOGUE (August 2006):
The people of South Louisiana never stop amazing me. With everything they've gone through, the hurricane victims have a more positive outlook on life and the future than anyone I've seen. It seems everybody wants to do his or her part in helping to prevent another Katrina or Rita from happening again.
Members of the older generation are attending public forums to voice their thoughts to local and state politicians. At the same time, members of the younger generation, who will talk about Katrina and Rita like the older generation talks about Betsy and Camille, are learning as much as they can so they don't have live through another hurricane season like the one they experienced in 2005.
Since Hurricane Rita, I've photographed many families who, without hesitation, rebuilt their houses. The most common response when asked why they chose to rebuild rather than move to higher ground is, "This is my home." Generations of families have grown up in this area. Many of the families even live on the same street as their parents and grandparents. As tough as it is to rebuild and recover from such a hurricane, the people down here almost see it as part of their life. It comes with the territory of living down the bayou.
Soon after Hurricane Katrina, I met and photographed hundreds of New Orleans evacuees who fled to Houma. I listened to their stories about how they survived the storm, how they ended up in Houma and how they were missing family members. I became a friend. I've recently contacted a few of these people to see how they're doing a year later. Some have moved to Houston, Atlanta or somewhere else in America, while others have moved back home to New Orleans and the surrounding area.
What I saw in the time I spent with these people is their ability to adapt to a new way of life. They know things will never be the same; they've accepted that fact. What they're doing now is dealing with what life has thrown at them. It might be living in a small apartment when they used to live in a two-story house. Or living in a FEMA trailer parked in their front yard. Or dealing with the insurance companies to get the roof damage fixed. Katrina hit everybody -- some more than others -- but everybody is having to learn how to live this new post-Katrina lifestyle.
But amongst all the struggles to adjust, the people of South Louisiana still know how to enjoy life. Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest are just two examples of what people have used to get their mind away from the tough times, and enjoy the fun times that this area of the country is so well-known for.
So maybe I haven't noticed much of a change in the past year, but I have noticed a strong determination to get back to a comfortable way of life.
