LITMIR.BIZ

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amplified in times of stress and survival. Katrina provided a backdrop for a high degree of amplification supporting this observation.

      We saw people looting for food…we saw people looting for TV’s…we saw New Orleans’ police officers stopping the looting and trying to preserve order…We saw New Orleans’ police officers participating in the looting, stealing Cadillacs from local dealerships. Each, following the dictates of his or her personal base…amplified in a time of insanity.

      We saw the men and women of the New Orleans Fire Department, the St. Bernard Parish Fire Department, the firefighters and police officers of the many small communities along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Alabama. The stories of heroism and scope of personal sacrifice among this group would occupy volumes. We saw the purity and integrity of the brotherhood of firefighters, reflected through the eyes of the men and women of the New York Fire Department, Fire Departments from Urbana, Antioch, California, Durkee, Oregon, Shreveport, Louisiana, the Pacific Northwest Task Group 3, Kentucky, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who came to the aid of St. Bernard Parish firefighters, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; and many more.

      We saw them fight the many fires that occurred in the aftermath and literally save their cities from burning to the ground…all done with compromised equipment and assets, with destroyed station houses…and all done with enthusiasm and dedication. They were the unsung heroes of Katrina.

      We saw the men and women volunteer firefighters come as part of the thousands deployed through FEMA to add their further support with assignments that for some, extended up to 3 years from the time of the storm.

      We saw Urban Search and Rescue (U.S.A.R.) specialists descending into the area from locations all over the United States and the world. We saw our Coast Guard, National Guards from many other states, and US Military of all branches step up to provide resources and personnel to countless communities throughout the Gulf Coast. We saw men and women from different animal rescue organizations come in and under the harshest of conditions, try to rescue and bring pets back to their owners amidst the chaos. We saw individual citizens, corporations, churches, and relief organizations do their best to try to bring a sense of control, normality, and saving grace to this seemingly insurmountable catastrophe. All should be praised and thanked for their selfless efforts and sacrifices.

      It would be nearly impossible to capture the breadth and scope of what all these people did in the times during and after Katrina. It is my hope that in some small way I can capture a glimpse of their efforts to share with you. It is my hope that in doing so, you, dear reader, will come away with a more complete understanding of the totality of Katrina and amazing extent to which her wrath has affected the lives of all of us as Americans and world citizens.

      Herein lay the stories of some of these people. I extend thoughts of thanks, wonderment, and admiration to all of you. This is for you.

Section 2

       At Home and on the Tracks…the Water’s a Risin’

Chapter 8

       The Firefighters

       “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure…In spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

       Christopher Reeve

      “The scope of this disaster is beyond the bounds of words. The impact of this experience marked each man and woman in the NOFD and every fire department worker who came to help us. It simply changed our lives. It changed our work, our city, our homes, ourselves.

      For most of us, the disaster has made us stronger. We are proud of our efforts and wonder how much worse it could have been if we had failed in our mission.

      We mark the times in our lives now-before Katrina and after. And we learned her hard lessons. We know the loss felt by so many because we lost so much ourselves. We helped so many and we were helped by so many. We are brothers now in a deeper sense because of what we went through. Strength and honor serve us well.”

       Reprinted from Come Hell and High Water,

       New Orleans Fire Department, 2008.

      The words written above could not be a more fitting tribute to all of the firefighters who gave of themselves in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s destruction. Firefighters from all the local communities affected--firefighters from fire departments who came in to lend their strength, and the volunteer firefighters who came in with FEMA. All of them were unsung heroes dedicated to helping their fellow citizens in their times of need.

Chapter 9

       Captain Richard M. McCurley

       New Orleans Fire Department

       “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.”

       Sir Francis of Assisi

      My Friend Ricky McCurley

      Eulogy Delivered December 8^th, 2005 delivered by Capt. Joe Fincher

      "I had the privilege and honor of being Rick’s Captain for most of the last 6 years on Engine 4. In 1999, he finished number one on the operator’s list and we were flattered that his first pick was to come to Engine 4. When I first met him, I thought he was smart…I later found out he was brilliant. He was an English major at the University of New Orleans, and when time permitted, he read without ceasing.

      A verse in proverbs says, ‘As a man thinketh, so is he.’ I can’t think of another person with a purer thought process. Ricky didn’t have a malicious bone in his body…to the contrary he was happy to help anyone, anytime, and at any place. Rick was shy and humble and maybe the most unpretentious person I’ve ever met. I thought when I first met him he was clever…I soon found out he was hilarious. I think the hardest I’ve ever laughed was in his presence.

      Rick was talented at almost everything he did. We both love music and I was impressed that he could play guitar. His favorite band was the rock group U-2 and his favorite theologian was Bono. At Engine 4 with Rick, we had a great crew and a great district on a great Fire Department…things went so smooth it was as though we were on autopilot. Rick was always calm in the eye of the storm.

      The more you knew Rick, the more you liked him. He became one of the best friends I’ve ever had, and I believe everyone on our company would say the same. Also, the more you knew Rick, the more you knew he loved his family. The first order of business each day was to tell us of the adventures he shared with Kyndel and Kai. I called them Dr. Kyndel and Spiderman. I called her Doctor even though she was a nurse at East Jefferson Hospital because she was our doctor. I’d call her at all hours when my kids were sick and she gave me better information than 95% of the doctors I’ve ever spoken to. Not only did we hear family stories, we got pictures and videos complete with music. We were briefed on trips to Disney World, Universal Studios, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mardis Gras, and buffets in Biloxi. It’s great to know those of you in Rick’s family, even though I’ve just recently met some of you. He loved you all and now we’re all your family. And Kyndel, whatever the angels didn’t know about you and Kai…they know now.

      Rick

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