: Esther Trotter [ET] and members of her family evacuated from New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina. She initially wanted to stay home, but because of the young children in the family they left the city, going first to Atlanta and finally to Houston. ET shared that her family participated in the New Orleans traditional activities like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest.

She said that her family that lived in New Orleans went in various directions for the storm but that her immediate family stuck together. They were communicating albeit intermittently. In the plans to leave, her son was not included because he was thought to be safely at work. He wasn’t so they picked him up as well on the way from Atlanta to Houston. ET told the story of the drive and how long it was for them, but nothing compared with the drive from Houston to San Antonio because of Hurricane Rita.

When they first came to Houston, they lived at the Shrine of the Black Madonna Mission then found their own apartments, got assistance from FEMA for a short while, before ending that because she was frustrated with the unnecessary red tape.

ET shared about her work in New Orleans Public School system as a teacher and in other capacities for thirty-two years. In spite of her experience, she’s not been able to be hired in Houston as a teacher. She discussed how she would like to see the city be revitalized and the schools come back on line, but she doesn’t see where the government leaders are doing what they need to do to make that happen.

In spite of everything she is not content here, she’s just here doing what she has to do. She said that she really misses New Orleans because that was home to her. And she misses her church home in New Orleans and is very concerned about her pastor. He was due to have surgery before the storm but doesn’t know when or if he’s had it and how he’s fared through everything.