Five years ago, Hurricane Katrina hit on August 29, 2005. Much of the focus of the news was on New Orleans. What many people don’t realize is that Slidell is directly located across from New Orleans, separated by Lake Ponchartrain, and was extremely hard hit by the Hurricane itself. A storm surge caused Lake Ponchartrain to rise to 14 feet that killed people and animals and destroyed homes and lives. Complete devastation. Eighty-five percent of Slidell was destroyed. 1,986 people killed in total by Katrina.
It was one month later I would find myself in Slidell so overwhelmed when two other women and I reached the warehouse that would house nearly 2,000 rescued animals by Noah’s Wish. The local news aired my story as did a radio station. I was also writing a story about the animals in Slidell.
This is but a small fraction of the warehouse where the barking dogs, cats, fish, snakes, turtles, birds, etc……lived for a couple of months.
I can remember the weather was sooo hot that I thought I was going to pass out from heat exhaustion. I nearly did. I can still remember helping in all facets of the rescue operation. From triage to walking the dogs and picking up their you-know-what to traveling around the area to get my entire story.
I can remember the huge tent city behind the warehouse where tent after tent was set up to house all of the animals. So heartbreaking.
I can remember waking up in a condemned motel at 4, leaving by 6:30 for the worksite and staying until 7:30-8PM and going back to the motel and deciding if I wanted to eat or wait in a long line for one shower. I opted to eat and wash myself in a sink.
I can remember construction workers staying at the motel who were there to reconstruct one of the bridges that connects Slidell to New Orleans.
I can remember falling in love with many of these animals. And I did! I can remember the people from Slidell telling me their stories and how they lost loved ones. I can remember how gracious they were to all of us who showed up to help them.
I can remember the Today show being there and waiting all day to get a reunion on tape for the show. I was there and helped to reunite a family with two of its dogs. The reunions were few and far between but did happen.
I can remember one man who lived in his truck around the corner so he could be near his dog in the warehouse. He was there to walk his dog every day. I can remember the FEMA trailers parked across the street.
I remember the other workers who worked so tirelessly to help these animals. I salute them. Without them, the rescue efforts could not have happened.
I can remember getting a tour of Slidell. The devastation was beyond my comprehension. It truly looked like a third world country. As we approached Lake Ponchartrain, silence fell upon the other people and me. Homes completely obliterated. I stood on the edge of Lake Ponchartrain and could imagine in my mind that storm surge that destroyed Slidell.
I can remember so much more from 2005. But here we are in 2010. The 5th Anniversary. I have been invited to a reunion of Noah’s Wish workers this fall for the opening of the brand new animal shelter in Slidell. This shelter was badly needed back in 2005 before the hurricane. And now they have it. I know they have implemented spay and neuter programs which many people from that region simply did not do.
This a new beginning for Slidell and for the animals. It will be great to see the rebirth of a city torn apart.
But I will never forget.