Life Story of a New Orleans Native Residing in Houston After the Hurricane Katrina Disaster
In the heart of Texas, Terrence Veal has made Houston his permanent home for the past 20 years, a decision that was initially made out of necessity following Hurricane Katrina. However, the city has since become more than just a temporary refuge for Veal and his family.
Veal, his wife, and six children evacuated New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina and found themselves in Houston. Initially, Houston felt like a foreign place, but as his children settled into school and Veal discovered the opportunities the city offered, it began to feel like home.
However, Houston's warm welcome was tested in 2017 when Veal experienced another natural disaster with the arrival of Hurricane Harvey. Concerns about flooding and questions about when they would be able to leave the city filled Veal's mind during those trying times.
Despite the hardships, Veal and his family stayed in Houston, finding solace in the well-organized infrastructure at the George R. Brown Convention Center. They were provided with free rent for a hotel for about four months, and for a year, they received $1,000 a month in food vouchers, gas vouchers, and free utilities from FEMA.
Veal's resilience was once again tested in 2021 when Houston faced a winter storm that caused pipes to freeze. Despite the hardships, Veal did not consider leaving the city, showing an unwavering commitment to his adopted home.
Houston, while welcoming and organized, is not an escape from extreme weather, Veal admitted. Yet, he found the city to be welcoming, and the people to be supportive during these difficult times.
Today, Veal is an educator with eight years of experience teaching eighth-grade students in a Title I school. He completed his bachelor's degree in business and his master's degree in education in Houston. Veal expressed gratitude for the opportunity to speak with the interviewer and shared his experiences, offering a glimpse into the resilience of Houston's residents in the face of adversity.
The transcript provided for the interview was created by an NPR contractor. Veal was reached in Houston during the interview.
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