After Katrina, this nurse migrated to Lafayette for work. She stayed for the culture.

When the news spread about the predicted severity of Hurricane Katrina, Ella M. was called into work. She lived in New Orleans working as a nurse at Charity Hospital and they required staff to be on site to oversee hospital operations during the storm.

There was one rule, though — no family allowed. Ella, who asked not to use her last name, and her colleagues hunkered down on the third floor with no way to contact family members. They rationed food and water, kept each other company and prayed for the worst to pass.

Ella’s adult children evacuated, but her husband insisted on staying at home with their dog. The couple had evacuated twice before for hurricanes, and he wanted to ride out the weather.

She didn't hear from him again.

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