John Cassidy
Professor Andrew Golden
ENC 1930 U23B
“Our Personal Memorial”
Hurricane Katrina
Standing Together.
Location:
This historical marker would be erected at the base of the fallen seventy-five foot pine tree. This
would be the optimal spot for the historical marker because it stands in the center of the
neighborhood. This spot will mark the cornerstone between triumph and disaster representing the
overcoming of immense obstacles of not only one community but an entire state.
Text:
Hurricane Katrina made landfall in South Florida on August 25th 2005, causing an
estimated 625 million dollars in damage and taking the lives of fourteen people. The category
five hurricane left 1.45 million Floridians without power including leaving this Southwest
Ranches community without power for two weeks. The disastrous storm left this neighborhood
in ruins, dismantling resident’s homes and community while leaving a mountain of debris in its
wake. This memorial marker stands as a reminder to the fortitude and preservation of a
community uniting as one to overcome great adversity. The bonds and sense of community
formed in such a difficult time highlights the resilience of the Floridian people when facing a
catastrophe.
On August 28th 2005, three days after the striking of the hurricane, the Southwest
Ranches community was left wrecked. As the neighborhood was left lying in disaster, the
community decided to join as one and take back their homes. The entire community worked to
mend their broken homes and debris covered yards. The community tackled one of the most
massive problems which was a seventy-five foot pine tree laying waste in one neighbor’s yard.
During these hardships’s the community banded together sharing their homes with other
neighbors and cooking meals for each other. Once the cleanup was finished a ceremonial bond
fire was held to celebrate the passing of the storm and honor the newly formed community bond.
This historical marker is in place to not only demonstrate one community’s
accomplishment but to commemorate the entire state wide triumph over Hurricane Katrina.