New Orleans: The City of Hope

Hurricane Katrina: Don’t Look Away

The Saints, Hurricane Katrina, and Mardi Gras can only describe one place in the United State. New Orleans, Louisiana. As you get off the plane and make your way through this spiritually filled city you find the Saints football team to be an extremely important part of the New Orleans lifestyle, the numerous Mardi Gras outfits, and the heart wrenching destruction from Hurricane Katrina. However, by the time you leave New Orleans you will discover, just as I had, that this city is so much more than just the Saints, Mardi Gras, and Hurricane Katrina.

On August 28, 2005 a category 5 hurricane, today known as Hurricane Katrina, burst into the Gulf of Mexico moving its way over New Orleans. The water began to raise quickly reaching the porches and soon making its way into the homes of nearly every person, from those in the Ninth Ward to the rest of the inhabitants in Crescent City. The lack of communication, minimal provisions, and unpreparedness are only three of several reasons for why Hurricane Katrina made such an impact on the city of Nawlins. Nearly 1800 people lost their lives, over 200,000 homes were destroyed, 350,000 cars were damaged beyond repair, and the hearts of millions were broken because their city became ground zero. Once the water had resided, people returned only to find their streets covered in mud, their homes filled with mold, and their houses displace. For those who couldn’t leave the city the story is much different. Life became a sacred word and every breath was a gift. Conditions in the Super Dome were extremely difficult and food was a rare occurrence.

Five years past and still destruction is evident. Schools are closed and homes are still inhabited, but the attitude of the people of New Orleans is unwavering and full of hope. Driving through the city you are still able to find the famous “X” on houses.  Many have avoided painting over the letter because to them they don’t simple show the rescue and safety attempts. Rather, it is a symbol of survival showing that they have won the battle, and lived through this horrible tragedy. While New Orleans will never be completely fixed, work can still be done. During my own trip to New Orleans I worked with a program known as Operation Helping Hands. Through this program we were paired with a house which we painted, scrapped, and calked. While the worked seemed daunting on the initial day, finishing felt so uplifting and seemed to fill me with the same hope that I had been identifying in the New Orleans people throughout the week.

On the way down to New Orleans several people shared that the spirit of New Orleans will be with you through your journey, showing the hospitality of the people and the grace filled attitudes that have helped all affected by New Orleans. Those who shared that insight with me were correct, because the spirit of New Orleans truly made me grow into a more understanding and grateful person. During my time in New Orleans I know that the people gave me so much more then I could have ever given them. Still, through my service I was able to give something in return which was showing those in New Orleans that although time has passed, that they have not been forgot.

Tylyn Trummer
Team 1: Education
Omaha, Nebraska
Duchesne Academy