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Students, families feel Katrina's wrath


Photo
Cade Bernsen
By Djamila Grossman
Arizona Daily Wildcat
September 6, 2005
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Some UA students from the New Orleans area are feeling the devastation of Hurricane Katrina personally. Some have lost almost everything they own, and others are saying goodbye to memories of the Big Easy.

Hal Miller, an undeclared freshman, was in Texas when the hurricane hit. He and his parents left New Orleans a day before the storm and went to Houston in 16 hours, a drive that normally takes about six, Miller said.

For the first days the family stayed at a friend's house, but they failed at buying a new place to live.

Now his parents will go back to New Orleans because there is no possibility of staying in Houston, and they have to provide the family with an income. Miller will come back to Tucson, he said.

Miller left the UA after the spring semester but now he said he plans to come back. He will arrive in Tucson with just a suitcase, which is all he has left.

"We lost everything," Miller said.

Not only did the storm leave families scattered all over the country, but they also can't talk to each other because all lines are mostly dead and "no one can reach anyone," Miller said.

Broken phone lines could also be the reason why Cade Bernsen, president of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, cannot get in touch with many friends and family members from New Orleans.

With those people still missing, the hurricane remains a sensitive topic for him, Bernsen said.

"I am praying for them. That's all you can (do), I guess. Pray that those soldiers get in there and get to help them," Bernsen said. "I don't know if New Orleans will ever be the same. That's a shame. I spent a lot of time there. That's where I'm from."

Bernsen said he grew up at the Louisiana border in Beaumont, Texas and has been through several hurricanes. Thousands of evacuees are now pouring into his town, and he said he wants to do all he can to help those people.

"It was worse than anyone would imagine," Bernsen said. "It's a nightmare. We need to do our part here at the U of A, and we're going to."

A lot of students have contacted ASUA, eager to help, Bernsen said.

One student who would do everything in his power to make a contribution is Sean Udin, a journalism sophomore from New Orleans, who said he usually goes back to Louisiana for breaks and spent all summer in the city.

His parents evacuated before the levee broke, but it took a while until he heard from them. His dad, who had an antique shop, will now move to California where his sister lives. He is unemployed and will take a couple months off until the city is restored, Udin said.

Photo
Sean Udin

Right now, Udin said he wants to do everything he can to help the victims and the city, but he doesn't have any money because his parents are unemployed. He is considering volunteering in the city during winter break.

"I want to do everything I can, but I can't donate, I don't have anything," Udin said. "I have no home anymore. I'm a refugee too."

He said he has to be careful about spending money because his parents lost their source of income. He never used to think twice about eating out, but now he can't do that anymore.

Many of the houses will also not be rebuilt because they are made of wood and are falling apart, Udin said.

"God knows we will have to buy another house," Udin said, but expressed doubt his parents could afford it without a steady income.

James Alford, an undeclared sophomore and redshirt freshman linebacker for the UA football team, is from New Orleans and said his family has lost all possessions as well, including his mother's dream house.

The family left the city Saturday but turned around because of bad traffic and sat out the storm in their house. They were rescued later and are doing well, Alford said.

"I was lucky because it didn't wipe out my family," Alford said. "I'm blessed that everything is OK."

While it is tough to be bound to the UA and watch things helplessly, Alford said he is confident that everything will work out in the end.

"I will get back up and I know my family will get back up on their feet," Alford said. "I got to be strong for everybody else. I don't show it, but I'm hurting. But I'll get through it."

While the last residents leave their city behind, there is doubt that New Orleans will ever be the same.

"I remember times going out and sitting on the bank of the Mississippi river, smoking a cigar and watching the sun go down," Bernsen said. "I don't know how they will recover from it, I don't know."



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