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By Carla Young Nix Dec. 18, 2006 Imagine, if you will, a typical week for you. Think about it. You are busy going about your routine business. Your family is well. Your job is secure. Your children’s school doors are opened. You attend services at your chosen place of worship. You shop at your favorite stores. Perhaps you even visit a friend. You then hear the official warnings that all you hold dear to your heart is in danger of changing. You are notified that it would be in your best interest to just pick up and leave. However, you are not quite sure how to feel about this warning of impending danger. After all, it’s another typical week that is filled with so many things to do. The weekend is approaching, with even more important things to do. And, you’ve heard these warnings year after year. You’ve given heed to the warnings in the past, but nothing ever really happened. This time you contemplate not leaving and feel that in spite of the warnings, this is yet again, an inconvenience at best. I want you to realize that I have just described the beginning of a nightmare for tens of thousands of New Orleanians as a result of the infamous Hurricane Katrina. In fact, this hurricane hit us with such an astronomical historical impact, that all one has to say is “Katrina”, and most people will understand exactly what you’re talking about. She doesn’t need a title. Katrina was a storm that will never be forgotten. People lives were changed forever. Not just in New Orleans, but in every city and state that was hit, as well as our entire nation. No one was left unscathed. Go back into your imagination. You may have left New Orleans in the midst of the thousands of people who fled via the contraflow system on the interstate. You made your way to safety in another city, or even another state. Or, you may be one of the thousands who remained in the city…….for one reason or another. Perhaps you could not afford to leave……no reliable transportation……..no means and resources to leave. Or, maybe you were one who felt that you could simply ride out the storm……regardless of the fact that Katrina was growing into a Category 5 hurricane. You may have even been one who remained because you were a first responder, medical personnel, or a city official. Whatever the case, you remained. Unfortunately, those who remained saw and experienced the immediate devastation of Katrina first-hand. Many saw others lose their lives. Still more almost lost their own and had to be rescued. Sheer mayhem, chaos, frustration, and fear broke out all across the city as Katrina thrust her fury upon us. For the thousands who were able to flee the city, confusion and fear was still a reality. As events unfolded and images and reports were played on television, in the newspaper, and on the Internet, citizens of New Orleans and surrounding areas were horrified by what was happening. The one word that became a constant part of the vocabulary for us all was “unbelievable”. We could not believe what was happening, particularly when the levees broke. I was a resident of the Lower 9th ward and was able to evacuate near Jackson, Mississippi. When I saw the legendary singer Fat Domino’s house on a television news report under water, I immediately knew that my own home was destroyed too. I did not live far from “Fat’s” home. Having visited the city several times since evacuation, we made the decision not to return to live. We have since purchased a home in the small rural town of Crystal Springs, MS for a number of reasons. Aside from the obvious fact that our home was destroyed, we felt that we had nothing to return to. Additionally, my youngest daughter fears that another hurricane will destroy us again. My daughter now feels safe and secure in our new location. We are not unlike so many others who have had to make some tough decisions since the storm. Many did not return for various reasons, and all have been changed forever. Yet, one thing is certain and will never change. Regardless where they are living, they will always be New Orleanians. New Orleans will always be “home”. Katrina changed the fabric of our lives in so many ways. We have begun to speak in terms such as pre-K (pre-Katrina), or we often refer to “normalcy” as being something that washed away with Katrina. We long for normalcy in our lives again. Whether one has remained in, or have come back to New Orleans, or if one has relocated to another area, we have all struggled with adjusting to this new way of life. The city is recovering from Katrina’s punch, but the individual’s recovery is more like a slam dunk. This has been a year of transition for us all. It will take time for us to return to the thriving city that we were. Yet, even good comes out of something as bad as Katrina. Weaknesses were discovered. We have learned what we need to do to be better prepared for catastrophes such as Katrina. On the local, state, and national levels, we also learned where the government is lacking and have failed our people. Our people. Because of Katrina, so many are today struggling with mental issues, health problems, and fears. Many have reported sleepless nights, and many more are still haunted with nightmares. People are grieving the loss of loved ones who have died directly, or indirectly, because of Katrina. In addition to the loss of lives, people are still grieving the loss of property, jobs, relationships, and a way of life. It is said that time heals all wounds, but even time doesn’t seem to be a salve for the gaping wounds and punctures that came about as a result of Katrina. It has been very difficult for everyone. But, you know what? As hard as it’s been, one thing is sure. New Orleanians are resilient people. We are survivors. In the beginning, those who evacuated were being called REFUGEES. Particularly those of us who are African American. We took exception to that. We weren’t refugees, we were still American citizens simply seeking solace and safety in the other areas of the land of the free, and home of the brave. We were then later referred to as Katrina VICTIMS. True, we were victimized by the storm, but we refuse to remain in a prison. In many ways, it is the frame of mind that makes one a victim. In order to rise up and move ahead, we realize that we have to see ourselves as VICTORS, and not victims. We are survivors and overcomers. We are conquerors and soldiers. We have experienced a terrible twist of fate, but we are remarkably strong people. There is no place like home. Absolutely no place like New Orleans. That is why the world enjoys coming to visit us. We are a unique breed and although our home may have changed, the past that we cherished remains in our hearts. Transplanted New Orleanians have remained true to who we are. The culture, the music, the food, will always be alive in us. We have brought a taste of New Orleans with us. And one of the most amazing things that they have experienced is when we come in contact with another person from New Orleans. Another Katrina Survivor. The incredible sense of kinship we automatically feel when we meet cannot be explained. Words are not even necessary. In most cases, we end up hugging and in some cases, crying, without even feeling odd. It feels natural and although the other person may be a stranger to us, once we learn that we are both from New Orleans, a natural bond is developed. How are we doing one year after Katrina? We are thankful to be alive and are looking forward to a brighter day ahead. We have seen destruction, catastrophe, and failure in many ways. Many are still struggling and trying to rebuild their lives that were so rudely interrupted. But, most of all, we are thriving and doing quite well. We are bouncing back and because of all that we’ve been through, we are actually better people. Yes, we are survivors who now have a greater appreciation for life. And we realize that because God saw fit to bring us through Katrina, we definitely have a purpose that is bigger than any of us. Katrina was terrible and unfortunately destroyed lives along the way. But out of the ruins comes beauty. New life. New determination. New resolve. Not even Katrina can be our demise, no matter where we reside, because we are one big family. ------------ About the author: Carla Young Nix and her family are new residents of Crystal Springs, MS. They are transplants from New Orleans, LA. As she adjusts to living in a small, rural community, Carla is very busy doing the work that she feels God has called her to do. That is to use her gifts and passion of writing, motivating, mentoring, and public speaking. She works by day as an Administrative Assistant (to pay the bills), but she works 24-7 as a vessel of God. Website: http://www.carlanix.com Blog: www.myspace.com/carlanix Email: carlanix1@aol.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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