Volunteer Firefighter’s Tale
Chapter 22: Teresa Kolkmann, the American Red Cross
Chapter 23: The Mississippi Gulf Coast
Chapter 25: Bill Cummings: Fighting Through It…
Chapter 26: Scott Fairly: Just Gettin’ it Done
Chapter 27: Sara Valor: The Rage of the Tempest
Chapter 28: The Charest Family Remembers
Chapter 29: Lily Duke: “Tiger Lily”
Chapter 30: Denise: Nursing for FEMA
Chapter 31: Iray Nabatoff: A Hero of the Parish
Chapter 32: Steve Gonzalez: The Heart of a Man
Chapter 34: Gretchen Scott Meyers: The Horror of it All
Chapter 35: Heather and Hicks at Kamp Katrina
Chapter 36: The Brottworks: Time to Right the Wrongs
Chapter 37: The Survivors: Two Years After
Chapter 39: Giving Birth During Katrina
Chapter 40: St. Bernard Parish: A Volunteer’s Perspective
Chapter 41: Gentilly Coffeehouse Waits for No One
Chapter 42 Robin Beaulieu: Animal Rescue New Orleans
Chapter 43: Dr. Greg Rich: Frogs and Birds and Ferrets…Oh My!
Chapter 44: West End Animal Rescue
This book is dedicated to the memory of Capt. Richard McCurley. Capt. McCurley was a member of the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD), Engine 4. Capt. McCurley was stationed at the Bell South Building in East New Orleans along with 32 of his fellow firefighters as Katrina struck. He survived Katrina and the difficult days and months that followed. On December 2nd, 2005, while being dispatched on a call related to a gas leak, the engine apparatus McCurley was riding was involved in a collision. Capt. McCurley died at the scene. It was reported that his last act was to secure the radio and make the call for aid for his injured men. He is missed by all who knew him.
This book is also dedicated to the New Orleans Fire Department firefighters, the St. Bernard Parish firefighters, the many different fire departments from across the country, and the FEMA volunteer firefighters who arrived to help lift the Gulf Coast out of the clutches of chaos, desperation, and destruction.
The men and women of the New Orleans Fire Department were deployed at 18 “Last Resort” locations throughout the city. Before the winds of Katrina had stopped blowing, many of these firefighters were setting up search grids, rescuing people, and getting them to dry areas for later evacuation. They worked for days with no communication to loved ones, very little communication between the various units, improvising and saving people. They were doing their jobs with dread in their hearts knowing they had probably lost their own homes as well. It is estimated that in the first few days after the storm they had rescued up to 19,000 people.
Some of you offered your stories, some of you came to help; all of you gave of yourselves, and spent long periods of time away from loved ones and family, helping your fellow citizens in their time of need. This book would not have been possible without your input, guidance, suggestions and support.
Special thanks to Gretchen George, Chief Jim O’Neill, James Prince, Gerald Pool, Bill and Samantha Cummings, Joseph Yeomans, Kimberly Canarecci, Teresa Kolkmann, Sara Valor, Lisa Carey, Bonnie Kaye, Ron Charest, Jacquelyn Lusardi, Lily Duke, Jeremy Nichols, Lauralie Corrin, Kimberly Sonefeld, Capt. Paul Hellmers, Chief Gary Savelle, Chief Thomas Stone, Operator Alan Boisdore, Glenn Cantrell, Laura Miller, Al Janni, Keith Gere, Gerry Mercieca, Iray Nabatoff, Ray Peacock, Ziggie Zeitler, Capt. Joseph
