By By Lisa Tindell – News writer
Images of thousands of people stranded on a stretch of Interstate 10 in New Orleans come to mind as the nation remembers the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina just one year ago.
As the anniversary of Katrina arrived Tuesday, a family in Brewton remembers those images all too well.
Reliving those harrowing days leading up to their departure from their home in Louisiana last August seemed difficult for Ann and her husband, Roger.
The experiences the Lee's faced in the aftermath of the storm would be considered unimaginable by many. However, the family had a connection in Brewton that helped them find each other and a new home.
C.D. and Doris Faulk, a great-aunt and great-uncle of Ann Lee, live in Brewton as well as a cousin, Brenda Kern. The Faulks were a lifeline to the family as they searched for each other in hopes of reuniting and finding a safe haven.
Ann left her perch on I-10 in New Orleans on a bus bound for the Astrodome in Houston. Once there, she registered as an evacuee and started working on getting back with her family.
Faulk made the trip to Houston to get Ann and headed back to Hammond so Ann could be reunited with her children. From there, Faulk and Ann made the trip to Baton Rouge to search for Roger.
It turns out that a Presbyterian minister at a newly opened shelter in Baton Rouge befriended Roger.
From there he was able to make contact with his displaced family and a reunion was had on the Sunday following the storm.
The couple lived in the building adjacent to the church property until they were able to secure a place of their own.
The family decided to make Brewton their permanent home.
One week before the Thanksgiving, Ann was able to find employment in Brewton and the family found a place to make a home of their own in the north Brewton area.