Stories from the Storm: Hurricane Katrina Survivors, In Their Own Words

by Audible

In the weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, Audible reached out to customers in the affected area to offer help. Many customers responded and several agreed to be interviewed about their experience. 'STORIES FROM THE STORM' was recorded in mid-November, in the days when many people were still clearing debris and figuring out how to restart their lives. From a 17-year-old who stayed in an east New Orleans hospital to a casino executive huddled in his closet just a couple of blocks from the beach in Biloxi, these riveting stories will remind listeners of the heartbreak, confusion, and perseverance of Katrina's survivors.

Audible wants to thank everyone who participated in these interviews, especially Carter Hooper, Celia Collins, Peter Ascani, Tom Fitzsimorris, Elizabeth Feltmate, Sarah Taylor, Michael Davis, Alan Larkin, Jim Nadeau, and Robin Woods.

Producers: Kerry Donahue and Gayle Hendrix
Post Production: George James and Sam Rodriguez
Original Music by: Guy Story


RUNNING TIME ⇒ 2hrs. and 29mins.

(P)2006 Audible, Inc.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, History

Audible Audio

First published August 18, 2006

Reviews

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a collection of stories by people who were affected by Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst that ever hit the US. Audible reached out to listeners to find stories. The ones chosen had difficulties, but the primary people who were affected are not represented here. There are no people of color telling about how no help came for them, being stuck on the bridge or in the SuperDome that was overcrowded and overflowed. The stories here are of people fairly well off who could easily recover. Too bad the real stories of the worst that was suffered are missing.

[Mark Will Never Cry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a somewhat confusing situation. I feel like these stories about survivors of hurricane Katrina are very important and they are told in a way, that makes you really get it, however, I had two big problems with this collection of interviews.
First of all, the audio quality was bad. The audio itself was unclear, making it hard to actually hear what the people were talking about, but there was also thing constant filter over the audiobook, which made it even harder to hear, which just didn't make any sense.
Second of all, this is a very specific set of survivors and I do not feel like this collection of interviews really captures majority of the survivors of the hurricane. Most of them have the ability to build their house back, most of them (if not all) did not lose anyone. It just felt weird that this specific set of interviews focuses on rebuilding and going back to life as it was before, when that seemed completely impossible to other survivors, who did not have the safety cushion necessary to be able to just rebuild their house.
However, the stories are told in a very honest way and they focus on parts, that are not heard about as much, because they are not "dramatic stories". Pretty good book, but I feel like it could have been much better.

[Ginger · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of these stories come from people of privilege. None of them speak as community members of the ninth ward. There's no acknowledgment of some of the political and environmental neglect that led to this disaster.

[Gail DiVico · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audible provided an up-close view of what people actually experienced from Hurricane Katrina. Although it was several years ago, I vividly remember the news stories re the destruction Katrina caused, buy hearing personal experiences of those who actually went through it was something Ican't put into words. On several of the stories, I found myself in tears. This audible book has two chapters, each chapter relating stories about various people and their families. It is short but certainly packs a big punch, no pun intended. I recommend this one to all.

[Gary Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching series of first person accounts that personalizes hurricane Katrina for all who listen. For those who didn't experience it firsthand, it might have just been shocking images on the tele and political drama in the aftermath. This audio book changes that by introducing real people and their real experiences.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but crazy to find such a large group of people who had virtually nothing bad happen to them during Katrina (half of them evacuated!)

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

These interviews were captured just a few months after the event; really while recovery was still happening. There are two first-person accounts from my Northshore area: Covington and Lacomb. It feels like interviews or prompters were present to keep the recollection moving and coherent and were then edited out. The result is compelling, personal oral history about caring for horses, the repugnance of liquefying chicken, house-crushing toppled trees, and more.

[Reg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely interesting. The story from the 17 year old in the hospital, in particular, was just riveting. It was a bit like listening to zombie stories, only infinitely scarier.

You get to see both extremes of human behavior here: breathtaking kindness and community in the face of terrible tragedy... and the "hell is other people" bit.

I kept thinking about what I heard a tour guide say about living through Katrina. He told us that he had "friends who'd better be dead at this point because pick up a fucking phone." (this was last year in late 2016) I can't imagine that. People he knew were just gone one day and years later he has no idea what happened to them. After listening to this, I still can't imagine going through it.

Lesson learned (tldr?): when they say 'evacuate' fucking do it. Unless you live in the French Quarter, apparently.

[Brandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting compilation of accounts from well-off white people in and around the New Orleans area in the aftermath of Katrina. I kept waiting to here some diversity, stories from people who didn't live privileged lives, own ranches, are locally famous, or maybe people who didn't have the options that these people had. It was a truly devastating storm and changed the lives of many people from many walks of life. Telling multiple stories from basically the same point of view didn't do the story justice. Keep digging. There are more sides to this than what is offered here.

[Colleen Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

JIC you were not aware, this is an audiobook available from audible. it's worth looking for.

[Del · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping stories directly from the mouths of survivors of Hurrican Katrina. Well worth a listen.