20 years after Hurricane Katrina, Houston’s Astrodome and community were noted for helping more than 200,000 evacuees from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. At a recent panel at the University of Houston Downtown, survivors reflected on the aid they received, with one evacuee saying, "The people in Houston... they open their heart... they open their arms... the people in Houston are so wonderful," according to KHOU.
Former Harris County Judge Robert Eckels said of the Astrodome’s role during Hurricane Katrina, "The miracle was we were able to do it in about 14 hours before we took our first person in." While the dome is no longer in use, Eckels described its future as "unfinished business?" Pastor Shannon Verrett, who evacuated to Houston during Katrina, received food and medication from the Astrodome and later settled in the city. He now leads Houston Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, stating, "Our model at Houston Franklin Avenue Baptist Church is that we’re a church that loves on people," and, "That’s our greatest gift," as reported by Click2Houston.
After Hurricane Katrina, Houston’s Astrodome sheltered more than 60,000 people with the help of 6,000 volunteers. Former Mayor Bill White said at the time, “Aren’t we graced by God to be caregivers rather than victims in these circumstances?” Two decades later, survivors, including University of Houston–Downtown faculty member Kionna LeMalle, reflected on the experience. She said, “On this other side of Katrina, what matters most are individual lives and people and what we can do for one another,” as per KHOU.
