First Person Narratives:Community responses to disasters
First-Person Narratives: Community Responses to Disasters
Disasters are often remembered through statistics: the number of lives lost, homes destroyed, people displaced, and dollars spent on recovery. Yet behind these figures are individual experiences that reveal how ordinary people confront extraordinary circumstances. First-person narratives preserve these experiences, documenting how families, neighbors, volunteers, healthcare workers, emergency responders, and community organizations respond when familiar systems of daily life collapse.
The history of disasters is not simply a history of destruction. It is also a history of cooperation, improvisation, sacrifice, displacement, adaptation, and rebuilding. Across different communities and historical periods, eyewitness testimony reveals how people organize rescues, share food and shelter, protect vulnerable neighbors, preserve cultural traditions, and reconstruct social relationships after catastrophic events.
This collection of 200 first-person narratives explores community responses to hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, and the September 11 attacks. Drawing upon oral-history archives, personal testimony, historical documents, and community storytelling, these sources illuminate disasters from the perspectives of people who experienced them directly.
Particular attention is given to Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Sandy, and other major disasters whose consequences extended far beyond their immediate physical destruction. Together, the accounts demonstrate how disaster recovery depends not only on government agencies and emergency institutions but also on the knowledge, relationships, initiative, and persistence of local communities.
Disasters as Experiences of Everyday People
Official disaster histories frequently emphasize meteorological conditions, infrastructure failures, emergency management, and government responses. First-person narratives provide another dimension by showing how these large-scale events transformed individual lives.
Survivors describe the uncertainty of evacuation, the sudden loss of familiar surroundings, the difficulty of locating relatives, and the emotional consequences of returning to damaged neighborhoods. They also recall small acts of assistance that became essential to survival.
These accounts demonstrate that disasters are experienced differently depending on age, income, health, housing conditions, occupation, transportation access, and social relationships.
For some individuals, evacuation means temporary inconvenience. For others, it results in permanent displacement, interrupted education, unemployment, financial hardship, or the loss of a lifelong community.
Personal narratives help explain these differences by connecting the broader history of disasters to the circumstances of ordinary households.
Hurricane Katrina: Survival, Displacement, and Community Rebuilding
Hurricane Katrina in 2005 profoundly affected communities across Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Gulf Coast. The disaster caused widespread flooding, damaged homes and public institutions, disrupted healthcare systems, and displaced large populations.
The Hurricane Digital Memory Bank and StoryCorps preserve numerous accounts from survivors, evacuees, volunteers, students, emergency personnel, and residents involved in recovery.
These testimonies document families fleeing New Orleans, Mississippi residents relocating to Tennessee, National Guard personnel participating in rescue operations, and volunteers transporting supplies into devastated communities.
They also reveal how displacement disrupted educational institutions, family relationships, employment, and longstanding neighborhood connections.
Particularly significant are accounts from residents of New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward and other neighborhoods where rebuilding required sustained community organizing.
The experiences of survivors illustrate that disaster recovery extends far beyond repairing buildings. It involves restoring access to food, housing, transportation, education, healthcare, and the relationships that sustain neighborhood life.
Healthcare Workers and Institutional Recovery After Hurricane Katrina
Disasters place extraordinary pressure on hospitals, universities, emergency medical services, and other institutions responsible for public welfare.
The LSU Health New Orleans oral-history collection documents the experiences of healthcare professionals, educators, researchers, and institutional personnel affected by Hurricane Katrina.
These interviews preserve memories of interrupted medical services, disrupted professional lives, institutional displacement, and the challenges of restoring healthcare and academic operations.
The accounts also demonstrate how institutions depend on the dedication of individual workers whose personal circumstances may be severely affected by the same disaster.
Healthcare professionals must often balance responsibilities to patients and coworkers with concerns for their own families, homes, and safety.
Institutional oral histories therefore contribute to a broader understanding of disaster preparedness, organizational resilience, and the human foundations of public-health recovery.
Hurricane Helene: Community Solidarity in Appalachia
Hurricane Helene in 2024 caused catastrophic flooding and widespread damage in parts of the southeastern United States, including communities in western North Carolina.
Oral histories collected through StoryCorps and the Madison County Public Library document how residents responded to damaged homes, businesses, roads, churches, and public infrastructure.
Interviewees describe organizing emergency food distribution, helping neighbors evacuate, assisting with rescue operations, rebuilding businesses, and coordinating volunteers.
Local journalists, community radio personnel, religious leaders, artists, educators, and business owners provide perspectives on the social dimensions of recovery.
Their accounts reveal the importance of local knowledge and established relationships when transportation systems, communications, and essential services are disrupted.
The narratives also demonstrate that rebuilding small towns requires the restoration of social and economic institutions as well as physical infrastructure.
Community bookstores, grocery stores, churches, galleries, and local newspapers can serve as important centers of information, cooperation, and collective identity.
Hurricane Sandy: Neighborhood Assistance and Mutual Aid
Hurricane Sandy in 2012 damaged coastal communities in New York, New Jersey, and surrounding regions.
First-person accounts document evacuation, temporary housing, power outages, property damage, and the difficulties of rebuilding coastal neighborhoods.
Oral histories from Monmouth University and StoryCorps preserve the experiences of residents, emergency personnel, and community organizers.
These narratives highlight both formal emergency assistance and informal support networks.
Neighbors shared information, provided temporary shelter, assisted with cleanup, and helped families navigate prolonged disruptions.
Community organizations also participated in rebuilding and neighborhood preparedness efforts.
The experiences documented after Hurricane Sandy demonstrate how mutual aid can complement government disaster-response systems, particularly when affected residents face long-term housing and financial challenges.
Hurricanes Harvey, María, and Ian: Family Survival and Displacement
Other major hurricanes produced distinctive experiences shaped by geography, local infrastructure, and community circumstances.
Accounts from Hurricane Harvey describe emergency medical work, food insecurity, family assistance, flooding, and neighborhood cooperation in Texas.
Hurricane María narratives document the experiences of Puerto Rican families confronting infrastructure failures, disruption of essential services, and migration to the mainland United States.
Hurricane Ian testimonies preserve memories of neighborhood damage, family assistance, and the challenges of recovery in Florida communities.
Together, these narratives illustrate the varied consequences of hurricanes.
Some families rebuild in their original neighborhoods, while others relocate temporarily or permanently.
For displaced residents, the loss of community connections can be as consequential as the destruction of physical property.
These accounts demonstrate how disaster recovery involves decisions about family responsibilities, economic security, cultural belonging, and the meaning of home.
Wildfires: Loss, Evacuation, and Rebuilding
Wildfires can destroy homes and landscapes within hours, forcing residents to make urgent decisions about evacuation and personal safety.
First-person wildfire narratives in this collection document experiences in California, Colorado, Hawaii, and other affected regions.
Survivors describe losing homes, confronting uncertainty, recovering personal belongings, and rebuilding after devastating fires.
Accounts from Lahaina following the 2023 Maui wildfires emphasize the importance of community solidarity, cultural relationships, and collective memory.
Other narratives examine the work of firefighters, neighborhood organizers, and residents involved in recovery.
Wildfires also reveal the emotional significance of landscapes and material possessions.
A destroyed home may represent generations of family history, while damaged photographs, personal objects, and familiar natural surroundings can embody irreplaceable memories.
Recovery therefore involves emotional and cultural reconstruction alongside physical rebuilding.
Floods, Tornadoes, and Earthquakes: Immediate Rescue and Long-Term Recovery
Floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes frequently create situations in which ordinary residents become emergency responders.
First-person accounts describe individuals rescuing strangers from floodwaters, neighbors helping neighbors after tornadoes, and communities cooperating to restore damaged infrastructure.
Historical earthquake narratives, including testimony concerning the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, demonstrate that community responses to catastrophic events have long been part of social history.
These sources document both immediate survival and the longer process of reconstruction.
Earthquake survivors describe the destruction of homes, schools, and familiar institutions, while community members organize assistance and attempt to restore everyday life.
Tornado narratives preserve memories of collective trauma, neighborhood support, and commemorative activities.
Accounts of historic floods reveal how disasters reshape local economies, workplaces, and intergenerational memories.
Despite differences in geography and historical period, these experiences repeatedly demonstrate the importance of cooperation during emergencies.
September 11: Civilian Volunteers and Emergency Responders
The September 11, 2001 attacks created a disaster that required extraordinary coordination among firefighters, police officers, construction workers, medical personnel, volunteers, and other civilians.
Oral histories preserved by the Library of Congress document the experiences of individuals involved in emergency response, environmental cleanup, recovery operations, and psychological support.
These testimonies reveal the range of occupations and community institutions involved in responding to mass-casualty events.
Construction workers and environmental specialists contributed technical expertise, while emergency responders confronted dangerous conditions and the loss of colleagues.
Mental-health professionals later assisted individuals coping with the psychological consequences of disaster-response work.
The narratives demonstrate that community recovery can continue long after immediate rescue operations end.
They also show how the consequences of catastrophic events extend into workplaces, families, public institutions, and collective memory.
Mutual Aid and Informal Community Networks
One of the most consistent themes across these narratives is the importance of mutual aid.
Mutual aid occurs when individuals and groups provide assistance through cooperation and shared responsibility, often drawing upon existing community relationships.
During disasters, residents may distribute food, transport stranded neighbors, share emergency supplies, offer temporary housing, organize cleanup efforts, or communicate information about available services.
These activities sometimes emerge spontaneously, while others develop through churches, neighborhood associations, volunteer organizations, businesses, and local institutions.
First-person accounts demonstrate that disaster survivors are not merely passive recipients of assistance.
They frequently become rescuers, organizers, caregivers, and advocates for their communities.
This perspective challenges portrayals of disaster-affected populations as uniformly helpless and recognizes the practical knowledge and collective capabilities of local residents.
Local Organizations, Businesses, and Community Institutions
Community recovery often depends on institutions that provide services and maintain everyday social relationships.
Small businesses, libraries, churches, schools, newspapers, community radio stations, and nonprofit organizations can play important roles following disasters.
Local businesses may distribute essential supplies, offer gathering spaces, or help restore economic activity.
Religious organizations frequently coordinate volunteers, provide shelter, and support affected families.
Community newspapers and radio stations communicate information about road conditions, emergency resources, assistance programs, and rebuilding efforts.
Libraries and historical organizations preserve testimonies that might otherwise disappear from public memory.
These institutions contribute to the social infrastructure that enables communities to coordinate recovery and sustain collective identity.
Inequality, Vulnerability, and Disaster Recovery
Although disasters affect entire regions, their consequences are rarely distributed equally.
Households with limited financial resources may have fewer options for evacuation, temporary housing, transportation, and reconstruction.
Older adults, people with disabilities, individuals requiring continuing medical care, and residents without reliable social support may face additional challenges.
Renters and low-income homeowners can experience prolonged housing insecurity, while workers dependent on damaged local businesses may lose their livelihoods.
Displacement can also weaken cultural and neighborhood networks that developed over generations.
The narratives in this collection reveal how preexisting social and economic conditions influence both immediate survival and long-term recovery.
They also demonstrate that rebuilding a community does not necessarily mean restoring the circumstances that existed before a disaster.
Recovery may instead involve difficult questions concerning housing affordability, access to public services, political representation, and the rights of displaced residents to return.
Family Photographs, Personal Objects, and Cultural Memory
Disasters frequently destroy materials that preserve personal and community history.
Family photographs, letters, diaries, household objects, artwork, and recordings can carry memories that are difficult or impossible to reconstruct.
Narratives concerning Hurricane Katrina and other disasters describe the emotional significance of losing these materials.
Photographs may preserve connections to deceased relatives, childhood experiences, family celebrations, or neighborhoods that no longer exist.
Personal belongings can also document histories overlooked by official institutions.
The preservation of oral histories, photographs, and material culture therefore serves an important historical purpose.
These sources help reconstruct everyday life before disasters and reveal what survivors considered most meaningful when describing their losses.
Community archives play a particularly important role in recovering the experiences of individuals whose stories might otherwise remain undocumented.
Psychological Recovery, Grief, and Collective Memory
Physical reconstruction is only one dimension of disaster recovery.
Survivors may experience grief, uncertainty, fear, guilt, and lasting emotional distress.
Emergency responders and volunteers can also face psychological consequences resulting from dangerous conditions, overwhelming responsibilities, and exposure to suffering.
First-person narratives document these experiences in ways that institutional reports often cannot.
Interviews reveal how people interpret their experiences, maintain relationships, commemorate those who died, and develop new understandings of community responsibility.
Some survivors find meaning through volunteering, rebuilding, storytelling, or participating in memorial activities.
Others describe prolonged struggles with displacement, financial insecurity, and the loss of familiar surroundings.
Collective remembrance can help communities recognize both suffering and the contributions of people whose actions shaped the response.
Oral History as a Resource for Understanding Disasters
Oral histories provide evidence that complements government records, newspaper reporting, scientific research, and official disaster assessments.
They capture individual observations, emotional experiences, and local knowledge that may not appear in institutional documentation.
Archives such as StoryCorps, the Hurricane Digital Memory Bank, the Library of Congress, Monmouth University, and LSU Health New Orleans preserve valuable testimony from survivors and responders.
These collections make it possible to examine disasters across different regions, occupations, generations, and social circumstances.
However, oral histories also require careful interpretation.
Personal recollections may be selective, incomplete, or influenced by the passage of time. Interview collections may not represent every affected population equally.
Consequently, firsthand accounts are most informative when considered alongside other historical evidence.
Their distinctive value lies in preserving how individuals understood and experienced events, including details that official records might overlook.
Lessons for Disaster Preparedness and Community Resilience
The collected narratives suggest several recurring lessons about the social foundations of disaster preparedness and recovery.
First, relationships established before a disaster can provide essential support when formal systems become overwhelmed.
Second, community institutions contribute to recovery by coordinating assistance, distributing information, and maintaining social connections.
Third, local knowledge can improve emergency response by identifying vulnerable residents, available resources, and neighborhood-specific needs.
Fourth, recovery requires attention to housing, healthcare, education, employment, cultural preservation, and psychological well-being.
Fifth, documenting survivors' experiences can inform future preparedness while preserving the historical record of communities transformed by disaster.
Finally, meaningful recovery requires recognizing affected residents as participants in decisions about rebuilding their own communities.
These lessons do not eliminate the need for effective government services, scientific planning, or professional emergency management. Rather, they demonstrate why successful disaster response depends on cooperation between formal institutions and the communities they serve.
Conclusion
First-person narratives reveal that disasters are not isolated moments of destruction but extended social experiences that transform families, neighborhoods, institutions, and collective identities.
Across hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, and human-caused catastrophes, ordinary people repeatedly demonstrate extraordinary capacities for cooperation, courage, improvisation, and persistence.
Their accounts document evacuation and displacement, emergency rescue, volunteer mobilization, neighborhood rebuilding, institutional recovery, and the preservation of cultural memory.
They also reveal inequalities that influence who can escape danger, obtain assistance, rebuild homes, and return to familiar communities.
The 200 narratives represented in this collection preserve experiences that might otherwise disappear from the historical record. They remind us that the history of disaster response belongs not only to government officials, emergency agencies, and major institutions but also to residents, families, volunteers, workers, and neighbors whose actions sustain communities during moments of profound uncertainty.
Understanding disasters from below enriches historical knowledge and offers practical insights into preparedness, social solidarity, public responsibility, and long-term recovery.
Ultimately, these testimonies demonstrate that community resilience is not simply the capacity to endure destruction. It is the collective work of protecting one another, preserving relationships, recovering shared histories, and rebuilding the conditions necessary for everyday life.
First-Person Narratives: Community Responses to Disasters
Hurricane Katrina: Evacuation, Rescue, and Rebuilding
Sombra Williams discusses experiences connected with New Orleans' post-Katrina Recovery School District, including construction, renovation, and restoration projects involving schools damaged by the hurricane.
2. | Skip Boe | StoryCorps | August 29, 2025
Hurricane Katrina survivor Skip Boe recalls rescuing neighbors from rising floodwaters in New Orleans and reflects on the emotional burden of being unable to save everyone.
3. | Voices From the Storm: Remembering Hurricane Katrina | StoryCorps | 2025
Hurricane Katrina survivors share firsthand memories of flooding, neighbors rescuing one another, family survival, displacement, and the importance of community ties.
4. | Love Thy Neighbor | StoryCorps | 2024
A collection of personal accounts exploring neighborly assistance, including the efforts of a New Orleans resident to rebuild community resources after Hurricane Katrina.
Julianne Barclay interviews her mother, Rita Legrand, about her life, volunteer activities, and the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Their conversation preserves family memories and a perspective on community involvement.
Lona Hankins discusses her professional experiences following Hurricane Katrina and her commitment to rebuilding New Orleans. Her account includes work involving public schools, community engagement, and the restoration of public institutions.
Jacquelynn Mornay and Amy Stelly discuss New Orleans neighborhood history and Hurricane Katrina's effects on Tremé. Mornay recalls walking toward higher ground during flooding and reflects on preserving community history and cultural identity.
8. | Robert Holmes: Organizing Assistance for Hurricane Katrina Evacuees | StoryCorps Archive | 2023
Robert Holmes discusses humanitarian work following Hurricane Katrina, including helping organize assistance for more than 2,000 displaced Gulf Coast residents who arrived in Colorado. His account documents community mobilization to support disaster evacuees.
9. | Tammy Hellman: Hurricane Katrina | StoryCorps Archive | 2022
Tammy Hellman participates in an oral-history interview about Hurricane Katrina, adding another personal voice to the historical record.
10. | Toni Hill and Jimmy Hill: Rescuing Neighbors During Hurricane Katrina | StoryCorps Archive | 2021
Toni and Jimmy Hill recall surviving Hurricane Katrina and share family memories. Jimmy describes helping neighbors escape a flooded home, preserving an eyewitness account of ordinary residents assisting one another during the disaster.
11. | Dorothy Wiley and Kim Mitchell | StoryCorps Archive | 2017
Dorothy Wiley discusses moving to Shreveport after Hurricane Katrina and wanting to become a positive presence in her new neighborhood.
12. | Burnell Cotlon and Lillie Cotlon | StoryCorps | August 2015
Burnell Cotlon and his mother remember life after Hurricane Katrina and the struggle to restore essential neighborhood services in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward.
13. | The Wind and the Rain | StoryCorps | 2015
Recorded personal narratives explore Hurricane Katrina and its lasting effects on families, relationships, and communities along the Gulf Coast.
14. | Christopher Lyons Oral History | Library of Congress | August 4, 2010
First responder Christopher Lyons recalls his experiences and later involvement in an organization supporting fellow police officers, informed by disaster-response work during Hurricane Katrina.
15. | William Dennius | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Oral history of William Dennius, born in Jackson, Mississippi, documenting his experiences and perspectives in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
16. | Bridget Vinson | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Bridget Vinson recalls evacuating from Gentilly, Louisiana, to Tennessee after Hurricane Katrina, contributing to the history of displaced Gulf Coast communities.
17. | Vicki Brumfield | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Vicki Brumfield describes volunteering in Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, providing firsthand evidence of civilian participation in disaster assistance.
18. | Tom Hannegan | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Tom Hannegan of Fleetwood Homes discusses traveling to the Gulf Coast to help rebuild housing destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
19. | Thomas Henegar | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Tulane University student Thomas Henegar recounts evacuating to Tennessee before Hurricane Katrina and experiencing displacement from his university community.
20. | Terry Davis | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Terry Davis describes helping organize historical preservation professionals to assess damage to Gulf Coast cultural institutions after Hurricane Katrina.
21. | Shawn Bazile | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
New Orleans resident Shawn Bazile recounts relocating to Middle Tennessee following Hurricane Katrina, preserving a personal account of disaster displacement.
22. | Sarah Coulter | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Sarah Coulter describes leaving New Orleans and relocating to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, following Hurricane Katrina.
23. | Richard Unangst | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Richard Unangst recalls leaving New Orleans for Middle Tennessee after Hurricane Katrina, documenting the experiences of displaced residents.
24. | Rachelle Morvant | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Rachelle Morvant, originally from Gretna, Louisiana, discusses the experiences of relatives affected by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
25. | Pat Landrum | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Pat Landrum reflects on Hurricane Katrina from the perspective of a Mississippi native attending Middle Tennessee State University.
26. | Mark Edwards | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Mark Edwards recounts volunteering in Bogalusa, Louisiana, during Hurricane Katrina relief operations and describes participation in community recovery.
27. | Leslie York | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Leslie York discusses Hurricane Katrina's effects on her parents in Gulfport, Mississippi, preserving a family perspective on disaster and displacement.
28. | Dr. Leslie Sharpe | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Dr. Leslie Sharpe describes accompanying university students on an alternative spring-break trip to support Gulf Coast recovery after Hurricane Katrina.
29. | Kevin Fontenette | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Kevin Fontenette recounts evacuating from Slidell, Louisiana, to Baton Rouge and eventually Tennessee after Hurricane Katrina.
30. | Kendyl Stokes | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Emergency management planner Kendyl Stokes discusses assisting with and managing Hurricane Katrina relief operations through Tennessee's emergency management system.
31. | Katrina Stanifer | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Katrina Stanifer describes volunteering through Middle Tennessee State University's alternative spring-break program to assist communities affected by Hurricane Katrina.
32. | John Blankenship | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Tennessee attorney John Blankenship recounts the experiences of relatives affected by Hurricane Katrina along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
33. | Jerrica Lugo | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Loyola University freshman Jerrica Lugo recalls returning to Nashville after Hurricane Katrina disrupted life and education in New Orleans.
34. | Jacob Thompson | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Tennessee Air National Guard member Jacob Thompson discusses deploying to the Gulf Coast to assist Hurricane Katrina relief operations.
35. | Hank Koeblar | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Hank Koeblar of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency provides an emergency-management perspective on responding to Hurricane Katrina.
36. | Lieutenant Colonel Gary Herr | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Lieutenant Colonel Gary Herr recounts deploying with the Tennessee National Guard to support Hurricane Katrina relief efforts along the Gulf Coast.
37. | Captain Francis Arnona | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Captain Francis Arnona, formerly of Mississippi, recounts relocating to Tennessee following Hurricane Katrina.
38. | Dorothy Hobbs | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Dorothy Hobbs describes leaving Moss Point, Mississippi, and relocating to Middle Tennessee following Hurricane Katrina.
39. | Dan Pomeroy | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Dan Pomeroy discusses surveying hurricane damage to historic properties along the Gulf Coast as a member of the American Association for State and Local History.
40. | Cori Lee | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Cori Lee recounts her family's evacuation from New Orleans to Tennessee and the disruption of her educational and community life.
41. | Chet Brace | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Chet Brace of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, discusses volunteering in relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina.
42. | Cecil Whaley | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Emergency management administrator Cecil Whaley offers an insider's account of emergency coordination following Hurricane Katrina.
43. | Catherine Griffon | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Catherine Griffon, a lifelong resident of Pass Christian, Mississippi, describes relocating to Middle Tennessee after Hurricane Katrina.
44. | Barron Russell | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
New Orleans native Barron Russell recounts relocating to Middle Tennessee following Hurricane Katrina.
45. | Barbara Manix | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Barbara Manix recounts evacuating from Waveland to Middle Tennessee after Hurricane Katrina.
46. | Allison Kennedy | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Xavier University freshman Allison Kennedy describes evacuating New Orleans and enrolling at Middle Tennessee State University after Hurricane Katrina.
47. | Linda and Edward Thomas | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Linda and Edward Thomas recount relocating from New Orleans to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, after Hurricane Katrina.
48. | Dr. Susana Donaghey | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Dr. Susana Donaghey, a New Orleans native, describes relocating to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, following Hurricane Katrina.
49. | Reverend Steve Murphree | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Reverend Steve Murphree discusses participating in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, documenting religious-community involvement in disaster response.
50. | Rachel Shenk | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Middle Tennessee State University student Rachel Shenk recounts volunteering to support communities recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
51. | Myron Watkins | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Myron Watkins recalls relocating from New Orleans to Middle Tennessee after Hurricane Katrina.
52. | Laura Dolph | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Veterinary technician Laura Dolph recounts traveling to the Gulf Coast to rescue pets stranded during Hurricane Katrina.
53. | Kevin Vaughn | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
University student Kevin Vaughn discusses volunteering on the Gulf Coast through an alternative spring-break disaster recovery program.
54. | Captain John Rigdon | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Captain John Rigdon of the Tennessee National Guard recalls responding to the Hurricane Katrina disaster.
55. | Jim Schroeder | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Jim Schroeder of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, recounts volunteering in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
56. | Jason Brock | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Jason Brock, involved in disaster response through the United Methodist Church in Tennessee, discusses organizing and participating in Katrina relief.
57. | Peggy and Carrol Jarvis | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Peggy and Carrol Jarvis recall leaving their community in St. Martin, Mississippi, and relocating to Tennessee following Hurricane Katrina.
58. | Dorothy McLaren | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Dorothy McLaren recounts relocating from Brookhaven, Mississippi, to Middle Tennessee after Hurricane Katrina.
59. | Denise Gaspard | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Denise Gaspard describes evacuating New Orleans and relocating to Middle Tennessee following Hurricane Katrina.
60. | David Shinn | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Tennessee National Guard member David Shinn discusses deploying to Naval Air Station New Orleans to assist Hurricane Katrina recovery operations.
61. | Dan Brown | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Dan Brown recalls leaving Gentilly, Louisiana, and relocating to Nashville, Tennessee, following Hurricane Katrina.
62. | Charles Bell | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Charles Bell of Tennessee recounts deploying with the National Guard to assist Gulf Coast communities following Hurricane Katrina.
63. | Bruce Ciemniecki | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Bruce Ciemniecki discusses organizing Hurricane Katrina relief supplies and transporting donated materials from Tennessee to the Gulf Coast.
64. | Alex Barge | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Alex Barge, originally from Slidell, Louisiana, reflects on Hurricane Katrina as a graduate student at Middle Tennessee State University.
65. | Daniel Maher | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Daniel Maher describes evacuating Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina and subsequently enrolling at Middle Tennessee State University.
66. | Corey Lee | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Corey Lee recounts evacuation from Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and continuing his education at Middle Tennessee State University.
67. | Patrick Landrum | Hurricane Digital Memory Bank | 2005–2006
Patrick Landrum reflects on the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the Mississippi Gulf Coast community where he grew up.
68. | Joshua Norman and Rachel Leifer | StoryCorps | 2006
Newspaper reporter Joshua Norman recounts covering Hurricane Katrina and encountering families coping with devastating losses and urgent humanitarian needs.
Cierra Chenier reflects on childhood photographs and family recordings damaged by Hurricane Katrina and the significance of preserving family and community memories.
Hurricane Katrina: Healthcare and Institutional Oral Histories
70. | Kelly Sherman Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | July 23, 2026
Kelly Sherman provides a personal account of Hurricane Katrina for an archival project documenting the disaster's effects on LSU Health New Orleans personnel.
71. | Flavia Souza-Smith Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | July 14, 2026
Flavia Souza-Smith contributes firsthand recollections associated with Hurricane Katrina in a recorded interview accompanied by a transcript.
72. | Gabe Tender Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | July 14, 2026
Gabriel "Gabe" Tender recounts personal experiences associated with Hurricane Katrina in an institutional oral-history interview.
73. | Lynn Pittman Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | July 6, 2026
Lynn Pittman shares a firsthand retrospective account of Hurricane Katrina in an interview preserved by LSU Health New Orleans Libraries.
74. | Alison Quayle Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | June 11, 2026
Alison Quayle recounts experiences associated with Hurricane Katrina in an oral-history interview preserved with a written transcript.
75. | Dave Browning Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | June 10, 2026
Dave Browning reflects on Hurricane Katrina and its effects within the LSU Health New Orleans community.
76. | Andrew Pellett Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | May 8, 2026
Andrew "Andy" Pellett contributes firsthand testimony about Hurricane Katrina to a collection preserving the memories of New Orleans academic healthcare personnel.
77. | Demetrius Porche Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | May 5, 2026
Demetrius Porche provides personal recollections associated with Hurricane Katrina as part of an ongoing institutional oral-history project.
78. | Patricia Molina Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | April 9, 2026
Patricia Molina provides a firsthand Hurricane Katrina account as part of LSU Health New Orleans' project documenting the experiences of employees affected by the 2005 disaster.
79. | Staci Olister Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | April 1, 2026
Staci Olister recalls Hurricane Katrina in an oral-history interview documenting the disaster's effects on members of the LSU Health New Orleans community.
80. | Dawanna Menzies Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | March 10, 2026
Dawanna Menzies shares personal recollections associated with Hurricane Katrina in an institutional oral-history recording accompanied by a transcript.
81. | Peter Krause Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | February 11, 2026
Peter Krause shares a retrospective account of Hurricane Katrina as part of LSU Health New Orleans' institutional memory project.
82. | Jennifer Manning Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | February 9, 2026
Jennifer Manning contributes a firsthand retrospective account of Hurricane Katrina to LSU Health New Orleans' oral-history archive, preserving experiences from the academic healthcare community affected by the disaster.
83. | Jennifer Hew Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | December 22, 2025
Jennifer Hew recounts experiences associated with Hurricane Katrina in an interview preserved by LSU Health New Orleans.
84. | David Troendle Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | December 17, 2025
David Troendle, who worked at LSU Health Sciences Center from 1968 to 2011, recalls the Hurricane Katrina period from the perspective of a longtime member of the institution.
85. | Jeffrey Hobden Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | December 9, 2025
Jeffrey Hobden offers firsthand recollections of Hurricane Katrina and its effects within the LSU Health New Orleans community.
86. | Don Lewis Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | November 20, 2025
Don Lewis Jr., who worked at LSU Health Sciences Center from 1986 to 2014, recalls the Hurricane Katrina period and contributes his firsthand institutional perspective.
87. | Kirk Deslatte Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | November 14, 2025
Kirk Deslatte contributes a personal Hurricane Katrina account to the LSU Health New Orleans oral-history collection.
88. | Gloria Giarratano Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | November 11, 2025
Gloria Giarratano provides a personal narrative associated with Hurricane Katrina and the LSU Health New Orleans community.
89. | Katherine Diodene Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | October 17, 2025
Katherine Diodene shares memories associated with Hurricane Katrina, contributing to the preservation of the LSU Health community's experiences.
90. | Julio Figueroa Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | October 17, 2025
Julio Figueroa contributes a firsthand recollection of Hurricane Katrina to LSU Health New Orleans' historical archive.
91. | Paul Fidel Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | October 16, 2025
Paul Fidel recounts Hurricane Katrina experiences in an interview documenting the disaster's effects on LSU Health New Orleans personnel.
92. | Yudi Cazanas Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | October 8, 2025
Yudi Cazanas provides personal testimony for an archive documenting Hurricane Katrina's effects on New Orleans healthcare and academic personnel.
93. | Richard DiCarlo Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | October 7, 2025
Richard DiCarlo provides firsthand recollections of Hurricane Katrina through an institutional oral-history interview.
94. | Diedra Brewer-Hohensee Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | September 9, 2025
Diedra Brewer-Hohensee provides a personal recollection of Hurricane Katrina for the LSU Health New Orleans archival collection.
95. | Carmen Canavier Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | September 9, 2025
Carmen Canavier recounts personal experiences associated with Hurricane Katrina as part of LSU Health's historical documentation effort.
96. | Brian Barkemeyer Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | August 28, 2025
Brian Barkemeyer recalls his Hurricane Katrina experiences as part of LSU Health New Orleans' institutional oral-history project.
97. | Nicolas Bazan Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | August 25, 2025
Nicolas Bazan contributes a personal account to the historical record of Hurricane Katrina and the New Orleans academic healthcare community.
98. | Margaret Bishop-Baier Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | August 25, 2025
Margaret Bishop-Baier offers a firsthand retrospective account documenting Hurricane Katrina from the perspective of the LSU Health community.
99. | Molly Knapp Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | August 22, 2025
Molly Knapp, who worked at LSU Health Sciences Center from 2002 to 2012, recounts experiences associated with the Hurricane Katrina period.
100. | Rodney Walter Jr. Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | August 22, 2025
Rodney Walter Jr. shares personal experiences associated with Hurricane Katrina in an oral-history recording preserved by LSU Health New Orleans Libraries.
101. | Mike Brauninger Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | August 15, 2025
Mike Brauninger, who worked at LSU Health Sciences Center from 2004 to 2006, recalls the Hurricane Katrina period in an institutional oral-history interview.
102. | Danielle Burlison Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | August 8, 2025
Danielle Burlison shares a firsthand Hurricane Katrina recollection preserved as an audio interview and transcript.
103. | Marshall Carll Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | August 8, 2025
Marshall Carll contributes a firsthand oral history concerning Hurricane Katrina and the LSU Health New Orleans community.
104. | Bennett deBoisblanc Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | July 29, 2025
Bennett deBoisblanc recalls experiences associated with Hurricane Katrina in a retrospective interview preserved by LSU Health New Orleans.
105. | Keith Pickett Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | July 8, 2025
Keith Pickett, who worked at LSU Health Sciences Center from 2002 to 2008, recalls experiences associated with Hurricane Katrina during his employment at the institution.
106. | Arthur Arseneaux Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | July 7, 2025
Arthur Arseneaux provides a firsthand retrospective interview concerning Hurricane Katrina and its effects on the LSU Health New Orleans community.
107. | John Keegan Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | June 13, 2025
John Keegan contributes a personal Hurricane Katrina narrative, preserved through an oral-history recording and accompanying transcript.
108. | Kurt Varner Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | June 13, 2025
Dr. Kurt Varner contributes firsthand recollections of Hurricane Katrina to LSU Health New Orleans' historical documentation project.
109. | Kresenda Raasch Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | May 26, 2025
Kresenda Raasch contributes a firsthand narrative to the LSU Health New Orleans collection documenting Hurricane Katrina and the experiences of people working in the city's academic healthcare community.
110. | Rebecca Bealer Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | May 23, 2025
Rebecca Bealer recalls her experiences associated with Hurricane Katrina in an interview preserved with a written transcript.
111. | Julie Schiavo Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | May 23, 2025
Julie Schiavo recalls experiences associated with Hurricane Katrina in an institutional oral-history interview conducted two decades after the disaster.
112. | Jennifer Lloyd Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | May 21, 2025
Jennifer Lloyd recounts Hurricane Katrina experiences in an oral-history interview preserved by LSU Health New Orleans Libraries.
Hurricane Helene: Community Response and Rebuilding
113. | Erica Hamilton and Wendy Welch | StoryCorps Archive | July 13, 2026
Erica Hamilton and Wendy Welch discuss community relationships and experiences following Hurricane Helene, including the coordination of supplies and neighbor-to-neighbor assistance in affected Appalachian communities.
Wendy Welch and Alisa McNiffe discuss rural communities, public trust, and Hurricane Helene recovery in Appalachia. Their conversation examines community relationships and the challenges of providing assistance and healthcare in disaster-affected areas.
Keith and Sarah Calloway describe watching catastrophic flooding from the upper floor of their business in Hot Springs, North Carolina. They recount rebuilding their business and the continuing recovery of the local tourism economy.
Artist Lois Simbach recounts losing her home and studio during Hurricane Helene flooding in Marshall, North Carolina. She discusses obstacles to obtaining assistance, continuing her artistic work, and planning for the future.
Sue Gurnee continues her account of Hurricane Helene flooding and the challenges of restoring damaged properties. Her testimony documents a local business owner's experience of community reconstruction.
William Auman recounts the loss of his family's homes in Marshall, North Carolina, and Florida because of Hurricane Helene flooding. His interview documents evacuation, displacement, and the challenges confronting families after multiple property losses.
Members of Marshall First Presbyterian Church describe flooding, volunteer assistance, cleanup, and reconstruction following Hurricane Helene. Their testimony documents how local congregations organized recovery efforts and restored community institutions.
Everette and Hope Hughey recall evacuating their home near Mars Hill, North Carolina, during flooding from the Ivy River. They also reflect on their relationship and marriage on the first anniversary of the disaster.
Matthew Wechtel, chairman of the Madison County Board of Commissioners, recalls preparing for Hurricane Helene and coordinating the county government's emergency response. His testimony discusses emergency supplies, local fire departments, evacuation concerns, and the challenges of responding to flooding more severe than officials anticipated.
Emily and Jon Svendsen describe the flooding of their downtown Marshall, North Carolina, business during Hurricane Helene. Their conversation documents cleanup, restoring commercial operations, and the challenges of reopening a neighborhood business after a disaster.
Connie Molland, owner of Flow Gallery, recalls the flooding of her business during Hurricane Helene. She describes cooperation among local business owners, volunteers, and town officials to clean up and restore downtown Marshall.
Maia Surdam recalls evacuating her downtown Marshall apartment during Hurricane Helene. As director of the Partnership for Appalachian Girls' Education, she also discusses her educational work following the storm.
125. | Megan Naylor and Willow Wallace | StoryCorps Archive | October 7, 2025
Mother and daughter Megan Naylor and Willow Wallace recall experiencing Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. Their conversation documents family displacement, property damage, and the effects of the storm on their surrounding community.
126. | Phyllis Utley and Tiffany Flunory-DeBellott | StoryCorps Archive | October 3, 2025
Phyllis Utley and Tiffany Flunory-DeBellott reflect on Hurricane Helene, sharing lessons learned, personal experiences, and the importance of maintaining humor and human connections during difficult circumstances.
Ross Young, former agricultural extension director for Madison County, North Carolina, recounts coordinating food distribution at the county fairgrounds after Hurricane Helene. His testimony documents local emergency management, food assistance, and community efforts to meet residents' immediate needs.
Mitch Hampton, assistant chief of the Walnut Volunteer Fire Department and a member of its swiftwater rescue team, describes search-and-recovery operations during Hurricane Helene. He also discusses the disaster's effects on his business and his personal recovery.
Johnny Casey, a community reporter for the Asheville Citizen-Times and News Record & Sentinel, recounts reporting during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. His testimony preserves the experiences of local journalists documenting destruction and community recovery.
Reverend Dusty Black describes Hurricane Helene flooding at First Baptist Church in Marshall, North Carolina. He recounts renovating and reopening the church and its efforts to support residents during community recovery.
Jamey Smith, owner of French Broad Book Exchange, recounts flooding in downtown Marshall and the destruction affecting his bookstore. He discusses efforts to return to the location and reopen the business.
Childhood friends Elizabeth Ford and Kristina Taylor Lewis recall Hurricane Helene's effects on Asheville and Lake Lure, North Carolina. They discuss grief, recovery, friendship, and creative writing as ways to process shared hardship.
133. | Carrie Afanador and Yolanda Adams | StoryCorps Archive | October 2025
Carrie Afanador and Yolanda Adams discuss Hurricane Helene and their work addressing gaps in services for North Carolina's Latino community. Their conversation explores nonprofit leadership and community-based assistance.
134. | William Williamson and Christy Shi Day | StoryCorps Archive | September 30, 2025
Friends and neighbors William Williamson and Christy Shi Day recall Hurricane Helene's effects on Morganton, North Carolina. They discuss neighborhood solidarity, recovery efforts, and the practical work residents undertook to rebuild their community.
135. | Dan Hettinger and Shelby Treichler | StoryCorps Archive | September 30, 2025
Dan Hettinger and Shelby Treichler describe Hurricane Helene's lasting effects on their North Carolina community and their own efforts to help their hometown recover, including community organizing and repair initiatives.
136. | Tami Forte Logan and Marcia Mount Shoop | StoryCorps Archive | 2025
Tami Forte Logan and Marcia Mount Shoop discuss the days following Hurricane Helene at Grace Covenant Church in North Carolina, preserving firsthand memories of a faith community responding to disaster.
137. | Sam Kearney and Joan Cordova Rodriguez | StoryCorps Archive | 2025
Sam Kearney discusses experiencing Hurricane Helene in a recorded conversation with StoryCorps facilitator Joan Cordova Rodriguez, contributing a personal perspective on the disaster and its aftermath.
Radio broadcaster Paul Gurewitz discusses the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and continuing interviews with people involved in recovery. His account illustrates the importance of local broadcasting and public storytelling after a disaster.
In a continuation of his oral history, Johnny Casey discusses his experiences covering Hurricane Helene's effects on Madison County, contributing a firsthand perspective on community journalism during disaster recovery.
Hurricane Sandy: Evacuation, Mutual Aid, and Recovery
140. | William Ventura: Emergency Rescues During Flooding | StoryCorps Archive | 2025
William Ventura recalls emergency-response experiences involving motorists stranded on flooded roads in New York's Westchester County. His account demonstrates the dangers of driving through floodwaters and the role of rescue workers in local emergencies.
141. | Bruce Gelb: Hospital Evacuation and Recovery After Hurricane Sandy | StoryCorps Archive | 2024
Dr. Bruce Gelb recounts experiences associated with Hurricane Sandy, including hospital evacuation, rebuilding medical facilities, and assisting transplant patients displaced by the storm. His account documents the challenges healthcare institutions face during major disasters.
142. | Hurricane Sandy: A Personal Account | StoryCorps Archive | 2023
A survivor recalls experiencing Hurricane Sandy and dealing with neighborhood conditions and disruptions to electricity after the storm.
143. | Marcy McKay and Mark McKay: Family Connections During Hurricane Harvey | StoryCorps Archive | 2020
Marcy and Mark McKay discuss family experiences associated with Hurricane Harvey, including concerns for relatives in Houston as the storm approached. Their narrative contributes to the history of families responding to disasters across geographic distances.
144. | A Family's Experience of Hurricane Sandy | StoryCorps Archive | 2018
A family oral history preserves a mother's recollections of how Hurricane Sandy affected the household and everyday life.
145. | Akiva Johnson and Henry Jimenez | StoryCorps | December 2015
Akiva Johnson discusses displacement from his home after Hurricane Sandy and the significance of relationships and personal support during difficult circumstances.
Jeanne DuPont discusses organizing the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance and establishing a community center. She recalls conditions following Hurricane Sandy and explains the importance of neighborhood organizations in building long-term community resilience.
147. | Florence Gatto and Martha DiVittorio | StoryCorps Archive | September 19, 2013
Florence Gatto recalls Hurricane Sandy, damage to her waterfront home, and neighbors gathering to support one another during recovery.
148. | Patricia Armstrong: Hurricane Sandy and Temporary Housing | Monmouth University | May 2, 2013
Seaside Heights resident Patricia Armstrong recounts remaining in her home during Hurricane Sandy, experiencing destructive winds and debris, and confronting temporary housing needs. Her testimony also explores the lasting emotional effects of the storm.
Christian Ries describes Hurricane Sandy's destruction of his family's home in Brielle, New Jersey. He discusses neighborhood recovery, financial pressures, insurance problems, and the difficult choices facing displaced homeowners.
150. | Tom Gallo: Emergency Shelters and Neighborhood Assistance | Monmouth University | 2013
Brick, New Jersey, resident Tom Gallo recalls Hurricane Sandy and the operation of emergency shelters after the storm. His testimony describes the importance of temporary shelter and local businesses reopening to assist affected neighbors.
Long Branch police officer T. J. Manzo describes law enforcement's role during Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath. His account emphasizes the shared vulnerability of disaster victims and the importance of people helping one another.
152. | Richard Pastore: Community Preparedness and Disaster Response | Monmouth University | 2013
Richard Pastore, a longtime Brick, New Jersey, resident, discusses Hurricane Sandy preparedness, changes in his community, and residents' frustrations with government disaster assistance. His interview preserves a local perspective on institutional response and recovery.
Hurricane Harvey: Survival and Assistance
153. | Sedgie Harvey Interview | LSU Health New Orleans Libraries | 2025
Sedgie Harvey's oral-history interview contributes to LSU Health New Orleans' collection of firsthand Hurricane Katrina recollections.
Loni Jenks reflects on her family's experience while her husband worked as an emergency physician during Hurricane Harvey. The interview preserves a family perspective on medical responders' work during a major disaster.
155. | Walter and Bennett: Hurricane Harvey Relief Work | StoryCorps Archive | 2022
This oral-history conversation includes a firsthand recollection of traveling to Texas following Hurricane Harvey, providing a personal perspective on participation in disaster-related assistance.
Mother and son Mary and Jaylon Colon discuss their reliance on the Houston Food Bank and difficulties obtaining sufficient food. Their account illustrates how existing financial and health problems can increase vulnerability when major disasters disrupt communities.
Beverly and Key Dauterive recall losing their home and employment following Hurricane Harvey. They describe moving between temporary locations and making sacrifices to obtain food for their family.
Hurricane María: Puerto Rico and Displacement
158. | Maribeth Rivera | StoryCorps Archive | 2023
Maribeth Rivera recounts Hurricane María's impact on Puerto Rico and the circumstances that led her to leave family and friends for the U.S. mainland.
159. | Experiencing Hurricane María | StoryCorps Archive | 2018
A firsthand interview documents living through Hurricane María in Puerto Rico and the experience of surviving a major natural disaster.
160. | How Do You Find the Word That Means María? | StoryCorps Archive | 2018
A family recounts its experience of Hurricane María in Puerto Rico, preserving memories of how the disaster affected family life.
Hurricane Ian: Family and Neighborhood Response
Paige Sayles and Rosie Rice discuss experiences associated with Hurricane Ian, including residents using outdoor cooking equipment and adapting everyday routines after storm damage disrupted their neighborhoods.
162. | Jennifer Fallon and Robert Conk: Family Assistance After Hurricane Ian | StoryCorps Archive | 2024
Jennifer Fallon discusses caring for her parents and helping others after Hurricane Ian. Her account highlights the importance of family networks and practical assistance during recovery from a major hurricane.
Wildfires: Survival and Community Recovery
Dawn Holland describes experiencing a destructive derecho in Iowa, including extreme winds, tree damage, and prolonged cleanup. She also discusses her husband's volunteer firefighting work and the importance of distributing emergency equipment before severe storms.
Nick Smith and April Wennerstrom discuss experiences associated with communities in the Pacific Northwest, including the destructive wildfires affecting the Spokane area. Their conversation provides a personal perspective on living with wildfire risks and their effects on local communities.
165. | Charyl R and Emily Carkhuff: Wildfire Evacuation and Preparedness | StoryCorps Archive | July 2026
Charyl and Emily discuss experiences with wildfire evacuation alerts and the importance of preparing for dangerous fire conditions. Their conversation addresses community connections, animal rescue, and practical considerations for living in wildfire-prone regions.
166. | Ron and Julie Lynam | StoryCorps | May 31, 2024
Ron and Julie Lynam recall losing their Colorado home in the 2012 High Park Fire. Their account explores evacuation, grief, rebuilding, and using salvaged burned timber to create new structures on their property.
Robert Ilko recounts helping organize community recovery following the 2003 Cedar Fire in San Diego County. His account describes neighborhood meetings, assistance to displaced homeowners, reconstruction activities, and efforts to maintain community relationships throughout rebuilding.
Brandy Branco recalls the importance of community relationships in Lahaina, Maui. She describes how the devastating August 2023 wildfires brought families, friends, and residents together to support one another and rebuild their hometown.
Phoebe Suina, Monica Jojola, and Gina Euell discuss professional experiences involving wildfire recovery and the challenges of helping affected communities. Their conversation explores community responsibility, leadership, and the need to balance professional obligations with local disaster recovery.
170. | Dave Scott and Keith Hardin | StoryCorps Archive | 2022
Wildland firefighter Dave Scott reflects on his firefighting career and the increasing size and intensity of wildfires, providing firsthand emergency-response history.
171. | Donna Miller and Miranda Stuart: Wildland Firefighting and Recovery | StoryCorps Archive | 2021
Donna Miller and Miranda Stuart discuss the experiences of a wildland firefighter and family members affected by the demands of wildfire response. Their conversation explores changing fire conditions, ecological recovery, and helping others understand rebuilding after fires.
A California couple shares personal memories of devastating wildfire losses. Their recorded conversation preserves the emotional consequences of disaster and the challenges of moving forward after destruction.
Flooding, Derechos, and Other Disasters
173. | Tony Midey and Theresa Cornelissen: Remembering the Flood of 1972 | StoryCorps Archive | 2026
Tony Midey recalls experiencing the catastrophic 1972 flood in Corning, New York, and being evacuated from his workplace. He reflects on the disaster and the role of Corning Incorporated in supporting the surrounding community.
174. | Michael Then and Michael McDonald: Rebuilding After Hurricane Agnes | StoryCorps Archive | 2026
Michael McDonald recalls the flooding caused by Hurricane Agnes in 1972 and discusses how Corning Incorporated supported rebuilding efforts in the affected region. His recollections provide a perspective on industrial and community cooperation after disaster.
Business owner Sue Gurnee recounts escaping floodwaters in downtown Hot Springs, North Carolina, with several animals. She discusses the flooding and her involvement in revitalizing properties within the community.
176. | Melissa Brooks and Zack Stephney | StoryCorps | April 7, 2023
Melissa Brooks and Zack Stephney recall the catastrophic September 2009 flooding near Atlanta, Georgia. Stephney describes risking his life to rescue Brooks from floodwaters while coworkers helped secure his escape. Their account demonstrates spontaneous civilian rescue and community cooperation.
Tornadoes and Severe Storms
Noreen Moseley recalls experiencing a destructive tornado near her childhood neighborhood in 1974. She describes families helping one another, neighbors working together, and lasting friendships formed through the community's shared experience.
Martha Mills discusses volunteering with organizations that assist victims of hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. She recalls traveling to damaged communities and witnessing the widespread destruction and human suffering caused by severe storms.
179. | Traiven Campbell-Jensen: Neighbors Helping After a Tornado | StoryCorps Archive | 2024
Traiven Campbell-Jensen recalls witnessing a tornado destroy part of a neighborhood near Elkhorn. He describes residents coming together afterward to clear debris, assist affected families, and help one another recover.
180. | Matthew Malott: Creating a Tornado Memorial | StoryCorps Archive | October 2, 2018
Matthew Malott discusses creating a tornado memorial in Vilonia, Arkansas. His firsthand account documents an individual's efforts to preserve community memory and honor people affected by a destructive tornado.
Earthquakes and Historical Disasters
181. | Iyo Fujita: Surviving Japan's 1995 Hanshin Earthquake | StoryCorps Archive | October 31, 2022
Iyo Fujita recalls experiencing the devastating 1995 earthquake in Kobe, Japan, when she was a college student. She describes checking on family members, walking through damaged neighborhoods, and witnessing residents and medical personnel coping with widespread destruction.
182. | Oral History and Earthquake Survivors | Teach311 Collective | September 11, 2015
An oral historian reflects on interviewing a survivor of Nepal's 1934 earthquake and preserving the memories of people who experienced the disaster firsthand.
Interviews with survivors of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake describe collective rebuilding, the restoration of schools, mutual encouragement, and social relationships supporting community recovery.
184. | Nellie Keohane's Letter After the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake | Library of Congress | May 1906
Nellie Keohane's letter, written approximately one month after the San Francisco earthquake and fire, preserves a contemporary eyewitness perspective on the destruction and the experiences of residents struggling with its aftermath.
185. | Story of the Earthquake and Fire | Library of Congress | 1906
A contemporary published account of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire preserves historical descriptions of the catastrophe and its effects on the city's population, providing valuable context for studying public responses and recovery.
September 11: Emergency Response and Recovery
186. | Roy Gross Oral History | Library of Congress | May 16, 2011
Roy Gross recounts his September 11 experiences in an interview preserved as part of the Benjamin Luft Collection of first-responder oral histories.
187. | Richard: September 11 Oral History | Library of Congress | March 11, 2011
Richard recounts experiences associated with September 11 and the response at the World Trade Center, contributing personal testimony to the historical record of the disaster.
188. | Ronald P. Barz Oral History | Library of Congress | March 3, 2011
Ronald Barz recounts remaining at a firehouse following the September 11 attacks to help locate missing firefighters and police officers while rescue crews responded downtown.
Psychiatrist Frank Dowling discusses the lasting psychological effects of September 11 on police officers and civilian responders. His testimony addresses post-traumatic stress, peer assistance, and the continuing need to support people who participated in disaster response.
190. | James Vaz Oral History | Library of Congress | December 1, 2010
Volunteer firefighter James Vaz recalls traveling with fellow firefighters to New York City after learning that a colleague was missing. His testimony documents grassroots rescue mobilization following September 11.
191. | William Fischer Oral History | Library of Congress | June 29 and October 20, 2010
William Fischer provides firsthand testimony concerning the September 11 disaster and the experiences of people responding to the destruction at the World Trade Center.
192. | Chris: Environmental Cleanup After September 11 | Library of Congress | August 23, 2010
A manager and co-owner of an environmental cleanup company recounts his experiences following the September 11 attacks, including the challenges of participating in recovery work at the World Trade Center.
Ronald King, a construction supervisor originally from Guyana, recalls witnessing the September 11 attacks and going to Ground Zero. He describes the suffering of firefighters and rescue workers and reflects on compassion, public solidarity, and his commitment to helping during a national emergency.
194. | Tyree Bacon Oral History | Library of Congress | August 6, 2010
Tyree Bacon recalls experiences associated with the September 11 attacks in an oral-history interview documenting the work and experiences of emergency responders.
195. | Rafael Orozco Oral History | Library of Congress | July 27, 2010
Rafael Orozco contributes personal recollections of September 11 to the Library of Congress collection documenting emergency response, rescue work, and recovery at the World Trade Center.
196. | Christine Famiglietti Oral History | Library of Congress | July 23, 2010
Christine Famiglietti recalls encountering destruction at the World Trade Center, assisting search-and-rescue efforts involving dogs, and witnessing the national response to September 11.
197. | Michael R. Prate Sr. Oral History | Library of Congress | July 16, 2010
Michael Prate Sr. provides an oral history of experiences associated with the September 11 disaster, preserving a first-responder perspective on the emergency and its aftermath.
198. | John "Jack" Delaney Oral History | Library of Congress | June 25, 2010
John Delaney shares firsthand memories of the September 11 attacks in an interview preserved by the Library of Congress as part of its collection documenting first responders and recovery workers.
199. | William Gardner Oral History | Library of Congress | June 25, 2010
William Gardner recalls responding to the World Trade Center and being assigned security responsibilities at a nearby firehouse that suffered substantial losses, documenting support operations during the emergency.
Cross-Disaster Volunteers, Preparedness, and Recovery
Retired nurse Donna Schloss recalls volunteering with the American Red Cross in disaster mental health services. She describes traveling to hurricane-affected communities in the Caribbean and providing practical and emotional support to disaster survivors.
