Set a Purpose

A hurricane moves toward land. Find out how Samantha’s family gets ready.

Monday, August 29, 2005

Last Days in St. Bernard Parish

I lived in a place called St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, a town just southeast of New Orleans. I say that I lived there, because I don’t anymore. I don’t live anywhere.

Friday night we heard that a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico might be coming our way. Not a big deal, I thought.

Dad called from his work and suggested evacuating. Since Hurricane Ivan last year, he’d been fairly paranoid about hurricanes.

By Saturday morning, the hurricane’s projected path showed New Orleans getting a direct hit. Dad doubled the efforts of his evacuation campaign.

By Saturday night, the decision had been made: we had to leave. Hurricane Katrina was now a severe Category 4, and it was coming straight for the city. We needed to get out of the parish.

Interpret the Map How many states did Hurricane Katrina pass through?

Hurricane Katrina’s Path, August 23–30, 2005