Summary: Stephen Lipp, age 43, is a native of New Orleans, but is now living in Houston with his wife and two children. They likely will remain here, although he misses New Orleans very much. His home in Lakeview was completely flooded and basically nothing was salvaged. He is a member of the choir at Emerson Unitarian Church. Mr. Lipp was born in the house where he lived with his parents and seven siblings. He played the French horn and piano when he was younger, and was a member of the University of New Orleans [UNO] marching band where he received his undergraduate and graduate degree in Engineering. Lipp taught briefly at UNO. His father taught at UNO for many years until his death in 2006. Mr. Lipp describes, in great detail, their departure from New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina, and the days immediately following. Even before they received news of New Orleans and their home, Lipp sensed that something dreadfully momentous was taking place. After a brief stay in Baton Rouge, Lipp, his wife, children, mother, father and mother-in-law(?) made it to Houston and stayed with his sister’s home in Katy. Lipp shares one of his favorite “evacuation stories” about an older relative who biked out of the city. Lipp talks about his flooded home and what he experienced upon first seeing it and his destroyed neighborhood. He also talks about his other great loss in 2006, the death of his father. His father died of cancer, but Lipp feels that it was “Katrina that killed him.” Lastly, Lipp reflects on what is New Orleans to him in a story about driving through destroyed St. Bernard Parish and seeing life being lived despite their situation. I also recorded Lipp signing in with the choir.