Helping Hurricane Victims at O'Brien House : Saving lives and families from drug and alcohol addiction

O'Brien House Helps Hurricane Evacuees
by Kate Lacinak
      Hurricane Katrina devastated thousands in New Orleans. Among those were other halfway houses. The O’Brien House opened their doors and their hearts to help two New Orleans houses like its own. The New Orleans Bridge House and Volunteers of America evacuated to Baton Rouge at the request of the National Guard. The O’Brien House took in about 25 New Orleans evacuees from those organizations during the crisis.

         “In a crisis, I would rather be with recovering alcoholics or drug addicts than almost any other group of people because they know how to deal with crisis,” said Katherine Martin, executive director of The O’Brien House.

         Lives for the clients at The O’Brien House changed quickly after Hurricane Katrina. Many pitched in and helped cook, clean and shared their already small rooms with the new arrivals. They also volunteered at local churches sorting goods and spending time with those staying in the Baton Rouge River Center.   “Our clients rose to the challenge of this crisis situation,” said Martin, who stayed at The O’Brien House during the storms.

        Not long after Hurricane Katrina, The O’Brien House was called upon again to house evacuees from Lafayette during Hurricane Rita. The residents again answered the call.