In the Eye of the Storm: Surviving the Aftermath

By Steven M. Banka

In 2005 hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast. In New Orleans it wasn't the hurricane you had to survive but the aftermath that came.Everyone thought the water flooding the city was the worst that could happen, they were wrong. With every chapter seemingly at the end, it got worse. See how one man survived the odds and cheated death. The Convention Center in New Orleans turned into hell for one week. Everything you can imagine bad happened. Be prepared for what you are about to read.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 11, 2010
• ISBN: 9781481763431

Steven M. Banka

The author of this book, Steve Banka, is a white male that grew up in a black city. Growing up in the 9th ward of New Orleans was as rough as it gets. Struggling all his life to prove himself over and over again, he always strives to help those in need. Although he wasn't welcome in many places, alot of people remember him as, "The only white boy to help them out." Father of 2 children and divorced from an interracial relationship, he always felt that he didn't fit in. Now the only thing he wants is to be with his children again, like a family, the family he never had.

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©2006 Steven M. Banka. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 7/26/2006

ISBN: 1-4259-4876-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-6343-1 (e)

CONTENTS

Chapter One          Watching The Storm

Chapter Two          The Hurricane At Dawn

Chapter Three        The Day After

Chapter Four          Decision Of Survival

Chapter Five          Survival Of The Fittest

Chapter Six            Dawn Of The Dead

Chapter Seven       Kill Or Be Killed

Chapter Eight        Fire In The Sky

Chapter Nine         Back At It Again

Chapter Ten           Day Of Rejoice

Chapter Eleven      The Long Ride

Chapter Twelve      A Base In Ruin

Chapter Thirteen    Helping Hands

Acknowledgments

In this epic story of what one man saw, we explore his survival of the storm, hurricane Katrina. The hurricane had wind gusts of up to 165 miles per hour in most parts of southeast Louisiana. However, hurricane Katrina isn’t the storm this story talks about, but the storm after the hurricane. The story takes place in New Orleans, the Big Easy. The city is turned upside down with looting, fires, rapes, kidnapping, gun fire, killings, stabbings, fighting and explosions. With every chapter thinking it’s at it’s worst, it gets even worse. How one man can survive is told in this story.

I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to endure what I went through.

Steven Banka

CHAPTER ONE

Watching the Storm

O ur story begins in New Orleans, Louisiana. 43 hours before landfall of hurricane Katrina at or around the mouth of the Mississippi river, New Orleans is calm and not expecting the hurricane to hit directly. The Mississippi river is a major trade port with many barges up and down the river.

I’m at lunch watching the president on the news urging New Orleanians to leave and seek higher ground. Yeah right, just like last year, it’ll turn at the last second. I said as I watch the news bulletin. The whole morning seemed normal and no one was thinking about evacuating New Orleans. There is an easterly wind coming off Mexico and will push the hurricane towards Mississippi. I said as if I were a meteorologist. Little did I know the hurricane was growing rapidly. The stronger the hurricane, the bigger the surge. I thought we were protected by floodgates, why should we run? So the joke of the day was, Are you running or staying? If I would have known what I know now, I would be packing my bags. All my co-workers that I asked seemed to be staying. Everything was normal so far, and I was writing down next weeks schedule. After lunch I get back to work and even till the end of the day, everything was calm and no one was in a rush to evacuate.

I live with a roommate, her brother and our friend Chris. I asked my roommate and her brother what their plans were when I got home. They wanted to stay with their family. Chris said his