Katrina
Sean Phillips
Rome
English 101
20, February 2013
Keeping the Faith
Is there a certain date that has forever impacted your life and you will never forget? For me,
that date is August 29, 2005 (the dreadful day Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast of the
United States and mainly the city of New Orleans). What was once thought of a few days before as a
non-threatening storm would forever change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people forever. My
grandma, being one of those people. Through the struggle she never seemed to lose hope. This date
would impact my entire family, as well as me for many years, if not forever.
“Wake up! Wake up! We have to leave!” my mother screamed, waking us on a
beautiful Sunday morning in August (exactly one day before Hurricane Katrina would make landfall on
the coast of Louisiana). “For what?” I said. My mom replied, “We’re evacuating for the
storm. Get your things together as quickly as possible. We’re going to hit the traffic.” I was puzzled
because I was concerned as to why we were evacuating for a category three hurricane which we had
planned to stay for and ride out. As I walked into the living room, my eyes widened in shock. The
“simple” hurricane which we had planned to stay for took up what seemed like the entire Gulf Coast
on my living room television. This wasn’t the average hurricane anymore. Hurricane Katrina had grown
to a massive category five hurricane, the likes of which nobody in my family had ever witnessed before.
My family and I began to quickly gather all the clothes, toiletries, and other supplies we thought were
necessary for a three-or possibly four-night stay in a hotel out of town. My dad made sure everybody
was prepared to leave. Then, my parents, brothers, aunt, grandfather, and I left the house and were
on our way to Gadsden, Alabama.
As we made our way onto the interstate, we soon found out that we weren’t
Rome
English 101
20, February 2013
Keeping the Faith
Is there a certain date that has forever impacted your life and you will never forget? For me,
that date is August 29, 2005 (the dreadful day Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast of the
United States and mainly the city of New Orleans). What was once thought of a few days before as a
non-threatening storm would forever change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people forever. My
grandma, being one of those people. Through the struggle she never seemed to lose hope. This date
would impact my entire family, as well as me for many years, if not forever.
“Wake up! Wake up! We have to leave!” my mother screamed, waking us on a
beautiful Sunday morning in August (exactly one day before Hurricane Katrina would make landfall on
the coast of Louisiana). “For what?” I said. My mom replied, “We’re evacuating for the
storm. Get your things together as quickly as possible. We’re going to hit the traffic.” I was puzzled
because I was concerned as to why we were evacuating for a category three hurricane which we had
planned to stay for and ride out. As I walked into the living room, my eyes widened in shock. The
“simple” hurricane which we had planned to stay for took up what seemed like the entire Gulf Coast
on my living room television. This wasn’t the average hurricane anymore. Hurricane Katrina had grown
to a massive category five hurricane, the likes of which nobody in my family had ever witnessed before.
My family and I began to quickly gather all the clothes, toiletries, and other supplies we thought were
necessary for a three-or possibly four-night stay in a hotel out of town. My dad made sure everybody
was prepared to leave. Then, my parents, brothers, aunt, grandfather, and I left the house and were
on our way to Gadsden, Alabama.
As we made our way onto the interstate, we soon found out that we weren’t