by Lisa Aiken (and a little help from Google Gemini)

Based on a Conversation with Marie Gould 

This August marks two decades since Hurricane Katrina, a name synonymous with devastation, unleashed its fury on the Gulf Coast. While the storm itself was a force of nature, its most tragic consequences in New Orleans—the loss of nearly 1,800 lives (and many, many more cats and dogs) and widespread destruction—were, as long-time resident Marie Gould puts it, "an engineering disaster of all times," primarily due to breached levees in a city largely below sea level.

Marie Gould, a Servas member for an impressive 40 years, and her husband Bob Marshall were backpacking in the remote wilderness of Montana when Katrina struck on August 29, 2005. Emerging days later to news that shocked the world, they learned of their beloved New Orleans' fate. Their slate-roofed home, a testament to resilience in a city accustomed to storms, had not escaped Katrina's wrath. The first floor was submerged, and the relentless winds ripped tiles off their charming home.

In the ensuing chaos, their friends and relatives rescued their dogs, and a neighbor found their cat miraculously alive after five days afloat on a cushion. However, the sheer scale of the devastation left Marie and Bob shell-shocked. With the city closed off and their home uninhabitable, they were disoriented and unable to immediately return to plan their next steps.

It was during this time of profound uncertainty that the true spirit of Servas came to life. As news of New Orleans' plight spread, a global outpouring of concern reached Marie and Bob. Their former Servas guests from Norway, South Africa, and countless other corners of the world reached out, offering not just condolences, but open homes. While deeply appreciative of these generous invitations, Marie articulated a universal human desire: "At that point, what you want most in the world is to be in your home, and you don’t want to be off in South Africa exactly. While that’s going on at your home, you want to be as close as possible."

Marie contacted Servas, and the organization swiftly put out a call for assistance to its expansive community. The response was immediate and heartwarming. Servas found a place for them in Great Falls, Montana, where they had emerged from the wilderness. However, Marie and Bob had already secured a flight to Atlanta to retrieve one of their dogs. They were welcomed into the home of a kind couple in Atlanta who had also experienced family loss due to flooding in Georgia. During a stay of several days, Marie and Bob were offered invaluable empathy and comfort at a time of intense disorientation.

Desperate to reunite with their other dog, who had been evacuated to Houston, they rented a car and headed west. Once again, the Servas network proved to be a lifeline. Although out of town, a Houston Servas member provided instructions on how to access their home, extending an open invitation for Marie and Bob and their dogs to stay as long as needed. Those hosts had even informed their neighbors of Marie and Bob's situation, prompting an additional layer of local kindness and support.

After approximately a week, Bob, who worked for a local newspaper, was eager to resume his journalistic coverage, and felt compelled to return to New Orleans. With the city still in disarray and their home unlivable, they found refuge closer to home, staying with friends in Baton Rouge—a city bursting at the seams with displaced New Orleanians

Marie and Bob recall with profound gratitude the unwavering kindness of their Servas hosts and the broader Servas community during those trying days. The relief of not having to worry about accommodation during the initial weeks following the hurricane provided immense peace of mind. Eventually, they returned to their repaired home and today remain residents of the vibrant, charming city they love.

As the twentieth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, Marie and Bob's story serves as a powerful testament to the core mission of Servas. It underscores not only the organization's peace mission through fostering global connections, but also the tangible impact of its community. In times of crisis, Servas members, all volunteers, opened their homes and their hearts, offering comfort and stability when it was needed most. Marie and Bob’s enduring gratitude reminds us of the profound difference a supportive, open-hearted community can make

[Photo of Marie’s block the first time she saw it after Katrina hit. Many parts of the city were underwater for over a month — theirs was for less than two weeks.]