Earl Slaughter“The water was rising about three feet an hour,†recalls Earl Slaughter, 49, who barely escaped death as floodwaters sent him to the roof of his mother’s one-story house in the 9th ward. As night fell on New Orleans, he hid as much of his lank body as possible in an ice chest, trying to maintain a grip on the roof’s peak while protecting himself from the chill of the turgid waters and wind. He stands before a placid lake an apartment complex in Denton. But with no job prospects, he asks the same question he did that night. “I don’t know how I’m going to make it.†Denton, Texas 11.05
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Katrina Robinson, 43 yrs old has been living in Dallas, Texas since she was displaced by hurricane Katrina. Before the storm she was living in the 9th Ward she was robbed and beaten in New Orleans before the storm, she has heavy scars and a plastic eye, which is infected but she has no medical coverage. Her main concern is to get some food, clothing and pay her rent. They have no furniture her and her two sons are sleeping on the floor. Dallas, Texas 9.06
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At the one year anniversary Memorial Ceremony and March organized by the United Front to Commemorate the Great Flood at the Industrial Canal in the Lower 9th ward where the levees broke when hurricane Katrina hit. Champerell Washington 35yr old sits and cries out. She says, "We were all evicted in Atlanta because we ran out of money. I had to give my children to their father who displaced to Houston, Texas. Her family were living in the 9th Ward when the storm hit. New Orleans, 9.06
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The remnants of what is left of their extensive library from the Rico Williams family home after hurrican Katrina. Ironically the title reads Pictorial History of Black America. New Orleans 9.06
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Joseph Lawrence, 48yrs old. who became homeless and squatter after hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans begins to smoke Crack. He is suffering from trauma and depression. He says many of the people he knows are still suffering form the effects of their traumatic experiences from the hurricane. He says there are many more people are doing drugs that were not before the storm. Here he is living in a garage were he is sleeping in a friend's car. New Orleans, 11.06
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Michael Hendricks walks through his home after throwing out all his possessions. New Orleans, 9.06
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Hilda Hendricks outside her home is hysterical crying because after one year after Katrina destroyed their home they have not received any assistance. She is trying to fix your window. She is afraid to leave for fear of people breaking into her home. The crime rate has risen to new highs since people have been moving back. New Orleans, 9.06
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One Year after hurricane Katrina swept through the Lower 9th ward, family drove in from Dallas, Texas to try and fix up their property for their 78 yr old mother . New Orleans, 9.06
9 / 15
Joel Ware a youth advocate for Youth Empowerment Project sits outside his FEMA trailer. Joel is himself who is an ex-felon who has turned his life around. One year after hurricane Katrina many of the youth are coming back to very little in New Orleans which is creating a lot of anger and frustration with many of the youth and their families. New Orleans. 10.06
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One year after hurricane Katrina Steve and Julia Stewart inspect their house outside with tears in their eyes. Steve in Korean War veteran and sister Julia, a retired school teacher. Julia says, " We are not looking for a handout, we are just looking for a hand up. This is the first time in my life I will have to pay rent. I was a school teacher for 42 years and did not expect to spend my whole life savings on trying to survive, it’s a shame that America could not be able to do better for its people." New Orleans, 9.06
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Aisha Walker who is pregnant sits on her bed and worries about their future. Her boyfriend Tom Jackson was shot and robbed outside their apartment complex. He will not be able to work for sometime and they worry about where they will live the baby. we will need our place, she says. New Orleans, 11.06
12 / 15
Walter A. McDaniel Walter sits in his apartment watching television. “I am trying to find work but I don’t have a car to get me around. I feel so isolated here in Denton. I have been on the telephone with FEMA and Red Cross for 6 hours this morning, I cant get a straight answer about the vouchers they are giving out to tenants for the rent. My landlord wants me to sign a one year lease but I must have a job or some way of paying otherwise they will throw me out. It took me 6 years to build my home and it took 6 hours for it all to be wiped away.†Denton, Texas 11.05
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Della Williams with her children at her new apartment in Denton, Texas. They were going to be evicted from the apartment until Dallas-based advocate Joyce Ann Brown came to the family’s rescue. Brown paid the rent until their FEMA money came in. Denton, Texas 11.05
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One Year after hurricane Katrina swept through the Lower 9th ward, all that remains of the entrance of someone's home. New Orleans, 9.06
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Earl Slaughter“The water was rising about three feet an hour,†recalls Earl Slaughter, 49, who barely escaped death as floodwaters sent him to the roof of his mother’s one-story house in the 9th ward. As night fell on New Orleans, he hid as much of his lank body as possible in an ice chest, trying to maintain a grip on the roof’s peak while protecting himself from the chill of the turgid waters and wind. He stands before a placid lake an apartment complex in Denton. But with no job prospects, he asks the same question he did that night. “I don’t know how I’m going to make it.†Denton, Texas 11.05
Katrina Robinson, 43 yrs old has been living in Dallas, Texas since she was displaced by hurricane Katrina. Before the storm she was living in the 9th Ward she was robbed and beaten in New Orleans before the storm, she has heavy scars and a plastic eye, which is infected but she has no medical coverage. Her main concern is to get some food, clothing and pay her rent. They have no furniture her and her two sons are sleeping on the floor. Dallas, Texas 9.06
At the one year anniversary Memorial Ceremony and March organized by the United Front to Commemorate the Great Flood at the Industrial Canal in the Lower 9th ward where the levees broke when hurricane Katrina hit. Champerell Washington 35yr old sits and cries out. She says, "We were all evicted in Atlanta because we ran out of money. I had to give my children to their father who displaced to Houston, Texas. Her family were living in the 9th Ward when the storm hit. New Orleans, 9.06
The remnants of what is left of their extensive library from the Rico Williams family home after hurrican Katrina. Ironically the title reads Pictorial History of Black America. New Orleans 9.06
Joseph Lawrence, 48yrs old. who became homeless and squatter after hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans begins to smoke Crack. He is suffering from trauma and depression. He says many of the people he knows are still suffering form the effects of their traumatic experiences from the hurricane. He says there are many more people are doing drugs that were not before the storm. Here he is living in a garage were he is sleeping in a friend's car. New Orleans, 11.06
Michael Hendricks walks through his home after throwing out all his possessions. New Orleans, 9.06
Hilda Hendricks outside her home is hysterical crying because after one year after Katrina destroyed their home they have not received any assistance. She is trying to fix your window. She is afraid to leave for fear of people breaking into her home. The crime rate has risen to new highs since people have been moving back. New Orleans, 9.06
One Year after hurricane Katrina swept through the Lower 9th ward, family drove in from Dallas, Texas to try and fix up their property for their 78 yr old mother . New Orleans, 9.06
Joel Ware a youth advocate for Youth Empowerment Project sits outside his FEMA trailer. Joel is himself who is an ex-felon who has turned his life around. One year after hurricane Katrina many of the youth are coming back to very little in New Orleans which is creating a lot of anger and frustration with many of the youth and their families. New Orleans. 10.06
One year after hurricane Katrina Steve and Julia Stewart inspect their house outside with tears in their eyes. Steve in Korean War veteran and sister Julia, a retired school teacher. Julia says, " We are not looking for a handout, we are just looking for a hand up. This is the first time in my life I will have to pay rent. I was a school teacher for 42 years and did not expect to spend my whole life savings on trying to survive, it’s a shame that America could not be able to do better for its people." New Orleans, 9.06
Aisha Walker who is pregnant sits on her bed and worries about their future. Her boyfriend Tom Jackson was shot and robbed outside their apartment complex. He will not be able to work for sometime and they worry about where they will live the baby. we will need our place, she says. New Orleans, 11.06
Walter A. McDaniel Walter sits in his apartment watching television. “I am trying to find work but I don’t have a car to get me around. I feel so isolated here in Denton. I have been on the telephone with FEMA and Red Cross for 6 hours this morning, I cant get a straight answer about the vouchers they are giving out to tenants for the rent. My landlord wants me to sign a one year lease but I must have a job or some way of paying otherwise they will throw me out. It took me 6 years to build my home and it took 6 hours for it all to be wiped away.†Denton, Texas 11.05
Della Williams with her children at her new apartment in Denton, Texas. They were going to be evicted from the apartment until Dallas-based advocate Joyce Ann Brown came to the family’s rescue. Brown paid the rent until their FEMA money came in. Denton, Texas 11.05
One Year after hurricane Katrina swept through the Lower 9th ward, all that remains of the entrance of someone's home. New Orleans, 9.06
Joseph Rodríguez Photography
Joseph Rodríguez is a Documentary photographer born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He studied photography in the School of Visual Arts and in the Photojournalism and Documentary Photography Program at the International Center of Photography in New York City.