Neighbors

What can I say? Like most Americans, I had never really got to know my neighbors with the exception of Jerry who lives across the street from me. That all changed after Hurricane Katrina. There are no strangers after a horrendous event like Hurricane Katrina. When I arrived back to my house Monday 8/29/05, I cried for 5 minutes because it was still standing. Then I went inside to check on all the pets and they were shook up but ok. The phone worked long enough for me to check on my son, who was staying with his father. I had to hear his voice and started crying again when he started talking on the phone.

After that, I went next door to check on my neighbors who stayed and made sure they were ok. They ran out of gas, so I took Myra with me when I made ice runs and she helped with water because they had a purifier. When the Seabee base opened up again and they were able to get gas, she would pick up ice for me.

My neighbor Jerry is amazing. Two of my trees had snapped in half and he got his tractor out and pulled them down and put them in the debris pile for me. Since he didn't have running water, I told him anytime he needed water for camper in order to take showers to just run his hose across and he did. He also helped all the other neighbors clear off their properties.

Myra didn't have enough candles so I gave her half of mine and we both would give each other different supplies when we could.

Since there was no lights for ten days, we all looked out for one another. If there were any strangers in the neighborhood, they were watched by many eyes until they passed on. We did not have any trouble with looters or gas stealers in our neighborhood. We became a community and helped and reached out to one another, even if it was providing batteries, information, ice, or water. I am proud to say that no one in my neighborhood lacked for anything.