It was late August and I was visiting New York City. From my friend's apartment we watched the Hurricane Katrina threaten the coastline as it churned through the Gulf of Mexico. Newscasters were warning what could happen if a storm of that magnitude hit New Orleans, the levees could break and/or the water in the delta could rise and envelope the city.
On Sunday, Katrina quickly grew to a Category 5 hurricane. There was a mandatory evacuation order, however, it looked like New Orleans was going to be spared a direct hit. That night, water started toppling over the levees.
On Monday, the hurricane hit Gulfport, Mississippi. The outer bands were lashing New Orleans. I was in Laguardia airport, watching the cataclysmic events begin to unfold. What started as water toppling over the 17th Street levee turned into a flow and then a breech and the city began to swell with water. From the T.V. set in the terminal, I watched people fleeing, seeking shelter and begging for rescue from the roofs of their homes.
I was sitting at my exit gate, listening to my ipod. The Snow Patrol song Run was on repeat. It will forever be my soundtrack for the storm, for the victims. I saw them while sitting safe in my seat more than a thousand miles away. They were waving flags and shouting for help. I also the line of cars of those who were lucky enough to leave. My heart went out, helplessly, to those who couldn't. "Light up, light up as if you have a choice. Even if you cannot hear my voice, I'll be right beside you dear. Louder, louder and we'll run for our lives. I can hardly speak I understand why you can't raise your voice to say."
Now, every time I hear the song it's a haunting reminder of how the nation sat by and watched the storm destroy a city. It's a sad reminder of how even though we knew it could happen, no one prepared for what would happen if the levees broke. "Have heart my dear. We're bound to be afraid, even if it's just for a few days, making up for all this mess."
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