Book review by Kelli Ohrtman of Best Friends Animal Society, published in the Star Tribune PetCentral blog:
Touching Memoir of Katrina Animal Rescue
September 8th, 2008 |
posted by cmoon      Â
8 State Hurricane Kate
A Minnesota woman’s Katrina story
by Kelli Ohrtman
8 State Hurricane Kate, a book by Minnesotan Jenny Pavlovic was scheduled for release several weeks before the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Little did Pavlovic know that its release would coincide with another hurricane barreling down on New Orleans, making her book even more timely than expected.
While none of us who were there will ever forget Katrina’s aftermath, Hurricane Gustav’s approach brought the memories right back– just in time for Pavlovic’s book.
8 State Hurricane Kate is a heartfelt recap of what it was like to watch a natural disaster unfold on television and get on a plane to do something about it. It is a story of one woman’s experience of stepping out of her comfort zone and into a disaster zone, and then stepping out again with one significant difference: a dog that she was able to lift out of harm’s way. Read more…
Posted on September 15th, 2008
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I heard back from Soren that his school and the surrounding St. Bernard Parish community seem to be ok. He is going back to school there on Monday. I have not heard back from others yet, but I think many of them still do not have power. Plus they are very busy sheltering animals and probably don’t have a minute to spare.
Since our fundraisers were cut short by the approach of Hurricane Gustav, I will donate $5 per book sold via www.8State Kate.net during September to groups including the Humane Society of Louisiana, the LA-SPCA, and Animal Rescue New Orleans. Thanks for your support.
Posted on September 3rd, 2008
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When I got to the airport, I lugged in my bags filled with books and tried to check in at a NWA kiosk. But, alas, it didn’t have a record for my flight out of NOLA. Now I had given up my car and I was sweating again. The agent at the counter started working on it and didn’t have a record with the seat that I had on my boarding pass. Read more…
Posted on September 1st, 2008
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On Saturday morning I logged on to NWA.com to print my boarding pass but my flight out of NOLA was cancelled. That’s when I started to panic. Others in the B&B were getting anxious too. Michael and his family were going to try to drive to Pensacola on the Florida panhandle. They had their dog with them and couldn’t find a hotel that would allow the dog, but they wouldn’t go anywhere without him. Michael decided to buy my book. He gave me his phone number in case I got stranded and wanted to drive to Florida with them. Ironically, he and his family were visiting NOLA to look into moving back.
Read more…
Posted on September 1st, 2008
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I arrived at the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel just before noon and had to leave my rental car with a valet, transport books to the second floor, and set up my display table before the luncheon. I should have lined up help in advance, but the bellhop took the books upstairs for me. While I was setting up my table, a woman named Kim came over and she saved me a seat at one of the luncheon tables, which were filling up.
At the luncheon, Joe DuBois, Past President of the Coalition of Louisiana Animal Advocates, was the Master of Ceremonies. Wendy Diamond, Founder and Editor of Animal Fair Magazine, Honorary Chairperson of the Katrina Animal Memorial Project, and Celebrity Judge on “The Greatest American Dog†TV Show gave the Keynote Address. Read more…
Posted on September 1st, 2008
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The Katrina memorial service was held in the chambers of the NOLA City Council at City Hall. City Hall is near the SuperDome and I got lost for a few minutes in a maze of one-way streets. The National Guard was already present near the Superdome, which is NOT going to be open this time. The atmosphere in the city was starting to feel a bit agitated. I found a place to park on the street and headed to City Hall. My bag was searched and I had to pass through a metal detector on the way in. I walked through the building to get to the chambers of the City Council, where the memorial would be held. The credit union there had a long line going out the door—people withdrawing cash. The ceremony was well attended, with probably 200 people or more. Two of the city council women were in attendance, Council President and Councilmember-at-Large Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson and District “B” Councilmember Stacy Head. I later saw them standing with the other council members behind the governor and the mayor on the TV news. Although some people apparently cancelled, people from coast to coast attended this event. Wendy Diamond and her dog Lucky were sitting in front of us. Read more…
Posted on September 1st, 2008
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I’m back to recounting my time in NOLA over the 3rd Katrina anniversary, with Hurricane Gustav bearing down on the Gulf Coast.
On Friday morning, Annie, a native of New Orleans who cooked our breakfast at the Creole Garden Inn, told me that she wasn’t taking any chances. She was going to evacuate immediately after she finished with our breakfast. She told me her Katrina story. She had stayed in the housing project where she lived and ended up stranded in 19 feet of water. She clung to a boat that someone was using to help evacuate and somehow got to the SuperDome. She told me about sitting on the ledge outside the SuperDome, of seeing bodies stacked up outside. She said that a lot more people died than were reported and I don’t doubt that. Read more…
Posted on September 1st, 2008
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I evacuated yesterday afternoon and arrived home very early this morning. The good news is that most of the animal shelters evacuated their animals early, Muttshack’s Katrina Promise is in action, and the situation overall in New Orleans is being treated very seriously and differently than before. The bad news is that Gustav seems to be picking up energy and speed and heading for the Gulf Coast.
I will write much more about the Katrina memorial events and the people that I met on this trip later. I will post photos too. Please check back later for more info.
Posted on August 31st, 2008
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Just a quick update because I have to get going. I got onto a flight out today and will be flying to Detroit this afternoon, then to Minneapolis, if all goes well. After I moved my flight up to Saturday last night, I heard that they may close the airport on Sunday, so I was glad that I had moved it up. Always trust your gut. I have limited internet acccess here and am surrounded by people who want to talk to me, so will have to send this off and get going. I have to pack up some books for storage at Canine Culture and then head to the airport. Read more…
Posted on August 30th, 2008
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Here in New Orleans there is some panic. The Katrina memorial service, statue unveiling (in memory of the animals that did not survive Katrina), and luncheon went well today. Although some people cancelled, there were still probably about 200 people present. It was fun to see so many wonderful people, but we had mixed emotions, and some people ran out early to get back to helping animals. The LA-SPCA started evacuating animals a couple of days ago. Today the St. Bernard Parish Animal Shelter and ARNO asked for help with evacuating. Nobody wants to take chances this time. Read more…
Posted on August 29th, 2008
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