Hurricane Katrina: A Retrospective

Authors

  • Raymonda Dennis Delgado Community College
  • Ruby M. Gourdine Howard University School of Social Work

Abstract

This narrative chronicles two friends' experiences with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. One lived the experience, the other observed it. Both used their personal agency to cope with the disaster. The survivor of the hurricanes describes her emotional response to the disaster and ways of coping. The other also found the experience emotionally draining, and sought ways to intervene both with her friend's family and within educational and social contexts. They used each other to express their frustrations but also recognized the strengths, resilience, and supports available within communities that enable them to survive. This is a lesson to families about responding to warnings, and about having the capacity to leave and the good fortune to have jobs and benefits to assist in the reclaiming of their lives.

Downloads

How to Cite

Dennis, R., & Gourdine, R. M. (2014). Hurricane Katrina: A Retrospective. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 13(3), 20–28. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/998

Issue

Section

General Submissions