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The Aftermath of Katrina by Debbie Fleming Caffery After Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, fine art photographer Debbie Fleming Caffery found herself in the role of photojournalist, documenting the stories of those most affected.  The following article is an email that Debbie sent out, recapping her experience and the stories of those she talked with and photographed. Article rating: 6.87

I would like to thank all of you for your care and concern after Hurricane Katrina and Rita for my family, friends and state.  I was able to document the aftermath of the hurricanes for 8 weeks by occasionally becoming part of the press and through the extreme generosity of two Photo angels.

I want to share a few experiences with you and what I have learned.

I did not experience the first few days in New Orleans during the horrific flooding, as I was at the River Center Shelter in Baton Rouge photographing for People Magazine.  The assignment was to do portraits of the evacuees and what they evacuated with. I worked with a writer from New York and we both were extremely upset in our quest for the story.  We watched people being checked into the shelter, having to go through typical airport security machines and have their belongings checked by the National Guard.  They were evacuated into a huge convention room lined with hundreds of cots.  We talked to many people and I photographed few.  We found that most of the people we met were evacuated from the flood waters of New Orleans and did not have any personal items with them. An elderly woman showed me the only personal item she brought with her besides the clothes on her back, was her dead husband's driver license.  The few that were able to bring belongings with them brought their Bible, family pictures and family members. One kid told me he brought himself!

Not being a photo journalist and all of a sudden being part of the “press” in my back yard , seeing my people so hurt was heart wrenching. We heard many stories, we consoled, the evacuees cried and I cried and, Ryan the writer bowed his head in sadness.

The Red Cross was at the shelter helping in the most kind, patient, human way possible.  The evacuees were greeted as criminals by the soldiers, but thank heavens were comforted by the Red Cross and the volunteers.  I saw hundreds of volunteers from all over the country arrive on their own dollar and sometimes on their vacation time to help the victims of the hurricanes.  I also am aware of the millions of dollars given by people all over the world to help.  The volunteers and the voluntary donations were not begged for, they were given from the good heart of compassionate people.  The state of Louisiana continues to beg for help from the government.  It is still desperate.  As late November, trash is piled up all over the area.  I was photographing in St Bernard Parish and had to leave because of burning eyes and a severe headache. Imagine what the people go through whose home were destroyed and are searching through the rumble for any memento they can find, as well as the clean up crews.

The Saturday after the hurricane, still working for People,  we  were supposed to go with a crew of state (government) rescuers  to New Orleans on a rescue mission to photograph people being rescued by heroes. “The STATE”  sure wanted that story, but were too damn slow in helping us -- we waited about 4 hours in "Homeland Security" where press conferences were going on all day.  The press waited, a prominent city councilmen from New Orleans was begging for help for his people, ministers from churches were gathered with the Black Political caucus.  I observed a scared looking frat guy groomed in a starched blue shirt rushing through all the angry people waiting.  I later found out it was Michael Brown, out of place in a crowd of people ready to help.  I started talking to the ministers and politicians and found out they were taking three buses and three church vans to the New Orleans airport to pick up people that had been rescued from the flood waters or the Superdome, and were stranded at the airport.  I asked if Ryan and I could go along.  We boarded one of the buses and realized Jesse Jackson was going  to be leading the caravan.  We arrived at the airport in the middle of chaos and sadness -- thousands of people were desperate to be evacuated.  I briefly got out of the bus, took a few pictures and helped a family with a bunch of children board the bus.  We were there a few minutes before all buses and vans were filled with people and we took of to Alexandria, several hours away to a shelter.

Ryan and I began to hear horrific stories of the people being rescued from the flood waters and of those that had spent a few days at the Superdome.  Shortly after nearly everyone fell asleep, a little girl, drew and wrote the following in my notebook:

“Once I was a baby
now I am a little girl
and my life is great
and this is how my life is
A good life.
I have my family and I love it
So you should love yours to.
The end. Michelle Henderson

Seeing everyone sleeping and the many sounds of  snoring made me tremble with distress.  I realized after the horrific week these people had been through, these were their first moments of rest and relief as someone had come to help them.  I took a few photographs.  I can not relate this without feeling so much sadness. 

We arrived at a shelter where the evacuees were not allowed to stay, as there was no room. The brief time we were there was wrought with anxiety for everyone.  Alexandria is Louisiana red neck country.  Jesse Jackson had a brief conversation with a TV crew that was there as a white couple screamed and screamed “we don’t want these people here... they are diseased murderers, looters”  I was not allowed off the bus to photograph.  After I recited my rights to every policeman, they slammed the bus door in my face!

We then went to another shelter where there was enough room and the people were taken off the bus two by two, greeted first in the bus by gloved guys.  All of the evacuees belongings were searched through and anything wet was taken, as the rumors of the floodwaters being contaminated by E coli, cholera, etc. had everyone in a panic.  The only kind person I encountered was a woman from Red Cross.  Jesse Jackson and his entourage stayed a while in which time his photographer was not allowed to photograph.  When they left it was all over for me.  Of course I was not able to photograph (managed a few) before I was harassed by a giant policeman who not only told me not to photograph but, that I would be sorry if I stepped over a line between me and the evacuees. I left the area and was headed into the shelter, without camera equipment for water, when before me a cop headed into me, with a low, big stomach and one behind me and squashed me between them, with his bad breath in my face and told me “I wouldn’t want to see what would happen to me if I went into the shelter.”  Again I recited my “American” rights which of course were ignored.

The people on the buses were families for the most part..grandmothers, grandfathers, parents, children.....I understood the need to keep liquor and weapons out of the shelter, but never will I understand or forgive the cold treatment I witnessed as these people exited off the buses.  I hope everyone will remember the sad images taken by my colleagues of people being stranded on roof tops and freeways, for days with no food and water and remember these as symbols of the impotency of our government during a national disaster.

Each morning I say a prayer of thanks that the media was there to show the world the truth.

I know this is not a cheery letter, but I want to give everyone a glimpse into some of what I experienced as so many have been asking.

What I have learned is to continue never to trust most politicians and to know our country cannot protect us properly in a National disaster.

There are new items I would list to add to the Homeland security list to prepare for a disaster: Most important to know you are on your own, buy an axe, either have a huge supply of food and water for a long time or learn how to steal or you could die of starvation.  Have medial supplies for a long time,  a boat, preferably a bateaux if in the South, life jackets, flares, and learn to hot wire a car or boat . Ask any of the doctors that broke into drug stores to get medial supplies, food, water, and all of those people that saved the lives of families, friends and strangers by hot wiring cars and boats!!!!

I would like to ask everyone to please continue to support the states hurt by the Hurricanes, especially during the Holiday shopping season.  And to please demand that the government help them.

In regards to New Orleans, please remember the music, writing, food, and art this great city has given the world!  Please include these things in your holiday shopping....it would  be great if we could all help in getting all the creative people back to New Orleans!

If anyone would like web sites to shopping New Orleans please email me.

The great news is.... after attending the “Comeback” exhibit on Nov 19th, in New Orleans at the Arthur Roger Gallery,  that the determination and creative spirit of the artistic community is stronger than ever!!!!

With great appreciation, wishing all of you Great Holidays and a Fabulous New Year!!!!

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