Pamela Magee [PM], age 37, told me the story of her life in New Orleans one filled with too much work, deaths to violence and worry for her remaining children’s health. She lost one son five years ago to violence in the streets of New Orleans. The majority of her family didn’t want to leave so they stayed in New Orleans through the storm.

Pamela told of how her family had to evacuate and walked from their home in New Orleans East to the University of New Orleans [UNO] Lakefront Arena. From there they were bused to Causeway Boulevard, and then taken by helicopter to Shreveport. From Shreveport she was picked up by family and brought here to Houston. Their treatment of her and her children and their other companions proved something of a disappointment.

Despite people treating them unfairly, PM is grateful for what help she did get. She and her family are well and several of her children don’t want to return to New Orleans. Pamela doesn’t like being mistreated because of where she’s from and feels like she needs to lie about it, a position she’s not unfamiliar with. She’s prayerful about the entire situation and remains positive in her encouragement of her children and others.