Water Line: My Family’S Journey Before, During, and After Hurricane Katrina

By Patrice Joseph

Authors tell stories for many reasons. One of the reasons for telling this story is to specifically connect with those who shared the same experience. Another reason for writing this book is to provide another experience of reference for the topic. This is just one story in the amid hundreds of other stories that could also be told. The final reason for telling this story is to leave an example or a blueprint for future generations of my family to know the strength and courage of those who came before them. I want my children to teach their children and their childrens children how to manage life through difficult situations and circumstances. I want this story to be an example for one of my favorite words, endure.

Hurricane Katrina was one of the most destructive hurricanes in recent history. Its economic loss was well into the billions during the first week. Hurricane Katrina started as a depression, then tropical storm, and in days, developed into an intimidating category 4 and 5 hurricane. Lives were heavily impacted and changed in New Orleans, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; and Gulfport, Mississippi, as the massive hurricane brought heavy winds, rains, and more than twenty feet of storm surge.

This book is not intended to dwell or wallow in the past. It is meant to review and remember what happened in order to celebrate the victory of moving through and moving past a tragedy. Ive learned in life that we cant be so quick to forget overwhelming or difficult life changes without learning the lessons from them. The truth is that life happens, and we must be willing to deal with, accept, confront, plan, solve, and move forward when lifes most unexpected twists and turns occur. This book is also not meant to become deeply involved in the political issues of Hurricane Katrina. The politics have already played out and are recorded in history. Water Line is simply the story of my familys journey before, during, and after one of lifes roughest moments while also recognizing the different experiences and levels of loss caused by one giant hurricane named Katrina.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Oct 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490747972

Patrice Joseph

Patrice Joseph was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is the youngest of four children born to O’Neil and Bessie Woods. She graduated from the historic Xavier University Preparatory High School. She holds a degree in elementary education from Dillard University of New Orleans, Louisiana, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Xavier University of New Orleans, Louisiana. In addition to more than twenty years of classroom teaching experience, she is also a strong advocate for teachers and students. She has strong family ties and believes family comes first. Hurricane Katrina was an experience that put her family’s faith into action. The result was a family that was still intact, that was thankful for survival, and with an action plan for building the future.

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Copyright 2014 Patrice Joseph.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

isbn: 978-1-4907-4796-5 (sc)

isbn: 978-1-4907-4798-9 (hc)

isbn: 978-1-4907-4797-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014917531

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Contents

Chapter One: Introduction

Chapter Two: Before the Storm

Chapter Three: During the Storm

Chapter Four: After the Storm

Chapter Five: Rebuilding

Chapter Six: Relocating

Chapter Seven: Life Lessons

This book is

dedicated to my family, all the citizens in New Orleans, Louisiana, and especially to the former New Orleans Parish Public School Teachers.

In Loving Memory

Mrs. Bessie Franklin Woods

1925–2013

Chapter One

Introduction

W aterline is a story I had to write. Every time I brainstormed writing topics, this story always came up. At first I told myself this topic was too big to attempt as a new author. This is only my second book and I wondered if I’d learned enough to take on the topic. After much thought, I decided to put those initial doubts to rest and tell my story. It is indeed, I think, a story that should be told. I don’t think I would develop fully into the author I strive to be unless I could write about one of the most devastating experiences I’ve ever lived through.

Authors tell stories for many reasons. One of the reasons for telling this story is to specifically connect with those who shared the same or a similar experience. Another reason for writing this book is to provide another experience of reference for the topic. This is just one story in the midst of thousands of other stories that could also be told. The final reason for telling this story is to leave an example or a blueprint for future generations of my family to know the strength and courage of those who came before them. I want my children to teach their children and their children’s children how to manage life through difficult situations and circumstances. I want this story to be an example for one of my favorite words: endure.

Hurricane Katrina was one of the most destructive hurricanes in recent history. Its economic loss was well into the billions during the first week. Hurricane Katrina started as a depression, then a tropical storm, and in days developed into an intimidating category 4 and 5 hurricane. Lives were heavily impacted and changed in New Orleans, Louisiana; Mobile, Alabama; and Gulfport, Mississippi, as the massive hurricane brought heavy winds, rains, and more than twenty feet of storm surge.

This book is not intended to dwell or wallow in the past. It is meant to review and reflect on what happened in order to celebrate the victory of moving through and moving past a tragedy. I’ve learned in life that we can’t be so quick to forget overwhelming or difficult life changes without learning lessons from them. The truth is life happens and we must be willing to deal with, accept, confront, plan, solve, and move forward when life’s most unexpected twists and turns occur. This book is also not meant to become deeply involved in the political issues of Hurricane Katrina. The politics have already played out and are recorded in history. Waterline is simply one story about my family’s journey before, during, and after one of life’s toughest moments while also recognizing the