'I knew it would happen again': People displaced by Hurricane Katrina found refuge in Omaha
As Hurricane Ida brings up painful memories, survivors of Hurricane Katrina say they were welcomed into the Omaha community. Now they pray for their home state.
As Hurricane Ida brings up painful memories, survivors of Hurricane Katrina say they were welcomed into the Omaha community. Now they pray for their home state.
As Hurricane Ida brings up painful memories, survivors of Hurricane Katrina say they were welcomed into the Omaha community. Now they pray for their home state.
Andrew Urquhart had to turn off the TV this morning. The images of Hurricane Ida were too much to bear.
“I just don’t want to be haunted by my past with Katrina,” said 32-year-old Urquhart.
Omaha has been Urquhart’s home since his family was displaced by Hurricane Katrina, which pummeled the Gulf Coast 16 years ago to the day. He said the images on TV reminded him how lucky he is to be here.
“To be honest, there was no place for me in Louisiana,” said Urquhart, who is raising his two sons in Omaha.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards says Hurricane Ida will not wreak the same havoc as Katrina.
“We’re not the same state that we were 16 years ago,” the governor said during a press conference.
The state has a hurricane risk reduction system that did not exist when Katrina hit.
“This system is going to be tested, there’s no doubt,” said Edwards. “The people of Louisiana are going to be tested. But we are resilient and tough people.”
One of those people is Andrew Urquhart’s father, who still lives in New Orleans. Urquhart hasn’t been able to reach him, as thousands in the city are without power.
“I’m scared for everyone who’s down there,” Urquhart said.
Lee Franklin Jr. also found refuge in Omaha after Katrina.
“I fell in love with it,” Franklin Jr. said of the city. But he couldn’t leave all of New Orleans behind.
“You can take me out of New Orleans, but you can’t take the New Orleans out of me,” Franklin Jr. said.
He decided to open A Taste of New Orleans, a Benson restaurant dedicated to the city he’ll always call home.
“It would be unfair of me to be in Omaha and not bring my culture with me,” Franklin Jr. said.
Watching another hurricane hit the coast is devastating. His restaurant is planning to help those impacted by Ida. If anyone winds up in Omaha, he says they will have a friend and an authentic Cajun meal awaiting them.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Franklin Jr. said. “It’s really sad to see that and one of the reasons I didn’t want to move back because I knew it would happen again.”