Hurricane Katrina: Looking back

Lola Freeman, who lost her New Orleans home to Hurricane Katrina, touring her new apartment in Atlanta with IRC caseworkers in fall 2005.

Photo: Jim Stawniak

As the East Coast of the United States cleans up after Hurricane Irene, the Gulf Coast is commemorating the sixth anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane Katrina.

Back in 2005,  International Rescue Committee refugee resettlement offices across the country extended aid to families who were displaced by Katrina. Atlanta, Georgia was among the U.S. cities most affected by the arrival of these evacuees from the Gulf Coast.

Last year I spoke with two colleagues — Elhamija Kadic and Albert Mbanfu — who helped people who had lost their homes and livelihoods to Katrina relocate to Atlanta and find work. Both Elhamija and Albert came to the U.S. as refugees. And both told me that when they joined the IRC they never imagined that one day they'd be coming to the aid of Americans who were facing almost the same kind of situation that refugees face.

Elhamija said, "I wanted to help and to pay back because, really, so many generous people had helped me, my family and other refugees."

"I was a displaced person helping displaced people," recalled Albert, who had some advice drawn from his own experience about how to help someone who has lost everything start over. 

"Listen to them and help them understand that life is full of ups and downs and that they can always catch up."