Student provides refuge for family left homeless by Hurricane Katrina

As torrents of rain flooded streets and neighborhoods, residents of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama watched as fierce winds demolished their homes, while others evacuated to drier land.While Kentuckians experienced the aftermath of the storm, Hurricane Katrina hit a little closer to home for senior agriculture major Laura Rogers.

Rogers, who grew up in Gulfport, Miss., said she was relieved to hear from her mother and brother Tuesday morning.

Her brother lives in New Orleans and her mother lives in Gulfport, Miss.

Both cities suffered devastation from the hurricane's force.

"It is scary and it is worrisome," Rogers said. "All I can do is have faith in the Lord to take care of them."

Rogers said she has had a difficult time reaching many of her family members

"I still have a lot of family down there, and I can't reach any of them," she said.

Residents in the Gulf States have experienced power outages as well as severe flooding.

The storm also destroyed phone lines and cellular towers.

"I can't call their cell phones. I thought you would always have a cell phone," she said.

Rogers' family members evacuated from their homes Sunday morning, and made their way to Jackson, Miss., Rogers said.

"The traffic was awful," she said. Her relatives found no place to stay in Jackson, so they traveled north to Little Rock, Ark.

Rogers is opening her home to her family members until they can return to their homes.

"I have a home, they don't have a home. I have a place to lay my head, but they don't. Their homes are going to be awful when they get back," she said. "If you think about it, they are losing a whole lifetime of work."

Rogers grew up in Gulfport, and she said she remembers hurricanes hitting the area where she lived when she was younger.

Rogers said she could remember seeing entire houses destroyed by the strong winds and pounding rain.

"We just rode them out," she said. "It is a scary experience."

Rogers said she and her husband are trying to help her family face the destruction. She plans to donate bottled water and a generator to help the family.

The Richmond Daniel Boone Chapter of the American Red Cross is collecting canned food, clothing, blankets and other personal items to be delivered to the disaster areas.

"When stuff like this happens they need clean water," Rogers said.

It was reported 80 percent of New Orleans is underwater, and spread of disease is a concern among health officials.

Although the number of deaths has not been determined, the hurricane probably killed thousands of people in New Orleans, Mayor Ray Nagin said Wednesday.

Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed beyond repair, President George W. Bush said Wednesday during a press conference.

Although most of the damage occurred in the Gulf States, Kentuckians are also feeling the affects of Hurricane Katrina.

Earlier in the week, heavy rains caused many areas in the state to flood.

Tuesday, Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Kentucky.

According to a press release from Fletcher's office, under the order, the Division of Emergency Management will consult with the American National Red Cross and local officials to determine the need for emergency shelters for displaced families, and will coordinate with local school boards and other organizations to determine the availability of schools and other facilities to be used as emergency shelters.

"Hurricane Katrina threatens the Commonwealth of Kentucky statewide with extreme weather, which will pose an immediate danger to lives and property statewide," the order states.

Financial contributions can be made to the Daniel Boone American Red Cross, 213 W. Main St., Richmond, KY 40475. For more information call 623-1336.

Reach Kasey at
kasey_doyle7@eku.edu