Mr. & Mrs. Hudson evacuated from New Orleans to Houston as a result of Hurricane Katrina. They had a pleasant community life in New Orleans East. They knew many of their neighbors, practically all who lived on their block.

They evacuated with family and to a hotel that Carol Hudson [CH] reserved for them. They watch the saga that was Hurricane Katrina unfold on CNN in disbelief. CH said that she was in denial at first. She eventually came to embrace the truth that she couldn’t go back to New Orleans.

They’ve spent their time here, working relentlessly to regain a level of normalcy to continue their lives together. They have decided to remain in Houston and build a house here, to enjoy their grandchildren and health and living. CH respects and appreciates and clings to who she is because of where she’s from; that truth well in place, along with her engrained faith in prayer, help her to make home where she is.

In the second track, CH added the story of their evacuation from Houston due to Hurricane Rita. The ordeal seemed to have reminded her yet again of what was important. It wasn’t money; they had that and could hardly use it. It wasn’t familiar paths; they unfamiliar was how they got through. It wasn’t them just sticking together with family; they were alone on the road—strangers helped them along the way.