Five years ago, Hurricane Katrina crushed spirits, homes and lives; this did not stop Ligonier Valley High School junior Leaugan Bernabo and his family, who moved to Westmoreland County after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the family’s New Orleans home.
Hurricane Katrina has been called the most dangerous storm ever to hit the United States in terms of economic losses. It caused an estimated $110 billion in damages and a death toll of 1,836 with 700 still missing. Roughly 275,000 homes were lost, forcing people to rebuild or leave.
The Bernabo family relocated to Bolivar five years ago because of family ties with Scott Bernabo, Leaugan’s father.
“[I thought] everyone was over-reacting, I guess I was a bit off,” said Leaugan, when he first found out he was evacuating.
Although the Bernabo family had their own situation to worry about, his mother managed to work and volunteer in the hospitals during and after the storm.
Leaugan’s house was four miles from Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans. The storm caused three feet of flooding, along with other damage throughout the house.
Leaugan’s family sometimes discusses returning to New Orleans. Leaugan is undecided about whether or not he misses New Orleans.
“Eh, so-so, some aspects. I miss my family, friends, and the cultural traditions I had in New Orleans, but I also like it here,” Leaugan said.
Hurricane Katrina is not the first tempest Leaugan experienced. Leaugan lived with his dad in a region of Kansas known as Tornado Alley. There, tornado warnings are quite frequent, although none of these warnings escalated to the intensity of Katrina.
Traditional New Orleans food is spicy and often contains chilies and seafood; delicate pastries are also New Orleans favorites. Although Leaugan doesn’t like cooking, he does enjoy eating. One of his favorites is a crawfish boil, Leaugan said.
“It’s a family event, almost like Thanksgiving only without the turkey,” Leaugan said.
Adjusting to Pennsylvania was not challenging for Leaugan. Joining the cross country team and exhibiting his artistic talent earned him several friendships.
“I do not care too much about what people think of me. As long as they are good thoughts, I am fine with it,” Leaugan said.