Hurricanes

Stephanie Beard

Most Americans would know a person is from the South whenever they overhear a conversation about hurricanes; and yes, Louisiana has had its fair share of rough weather over the past five years to last a lifetime. Therefore, I chose the image of the ravaged Louisiana State University Quadrangle after the notorious storm, Gustav. This image can potentially portray negative feelings because people see how a place can physically change after one storm. The sky is still overcast, and the mood is somber from surveying the wreck of the storm. One of the University’s historic oak trees narrowly missed Allen Hall when it fell victim to the high wind gusts. Tree branches, red tile, and debris are also scattered throughout the area. From this scene, one might relate Louisiana to catastrophic events. However, what most people do not understand about this state’s personality is that during a time of crisis, our citizens bond together to overcome hardships, such as Hurricane Gustav and Katrina.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina completely destroyed the city of New Orleans. Its citizens lost their homes to flood waters and were unable to return to their homes for several months. During this state of emergency, FEMA officials were slow to respond to the dire needs of Louisiana; thus, Louisianans took matters into their own hands and started fixing the state that they considered home. People from all over the state volunteered to shelter families and pets until more appropriate accommodations could be found. Schools and churches opened their doors to assist the millions of victims in the recovery process. Also, individuals and support groups volunteered countless materials and hours of time to the rebuilding of New Orleans after the devastating storms. Due to the overwhelming generosity of Louisiana’s citizens, the city was able to make a full come back and is now called home again by thousands.
In 2008, Louisiana was once again ravaged by another hurricane. This time the city of New Orleans was spared, but the capitol, Baton Rouge, took a hard hit. Thanks to Hurricane Gustav, countless trees and debris clogged the roads, and power lines were snapped in half on nearly every street. The city was completely without power and curfews were instigated to keep order. Once again, the people of Louisiana responded to this disaster with optimism and open hearts. Strangers offered to clean up debris; restaurant owners opened their doors to the hungry; and numerous Louisiana State University students volunteered their time to help with makeshift cafeterias and hospitals. Within a few days, power was restored, and the city was fully functioning again.
As a result, this image captures a secret that one would not understand unless he or she lived in Louisiana in the past. Hurricanes may cause physical damage to the state, but they allow its citizens to come together and bond by rebuilding a place they consider home. These citizens help create the unique culture of the state of Louisiana. In a state of disaster, Louisiana can always rely on its citizens to pull through which is why Louisiana is such a wonderful place to live.