When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in late August 2005, it caused over 1,800 fatalities and over $125 billion in damages. The hurricane destroyed or severely damaged over 850,000 homes.

One of those homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina belonged to Noel and Denise Debose and their three boys, Noel Jr., Brian, and Stephen.

“We realized after one week that we couldn’t go back home so we moved to Valencia,” reflected Noel.

That week the City of Santa Clarita was being told by FEMA to expect hundreds of families who were going to be relocated from New Orleans to Santa Clarita. Adele Macpherson was the head of the City’s Emergency services at the time. She was also a member of the Santa Clarita Disaster Coalition, formed a year earlier to assist with severe flooding in our valley. She brought in the Coalition to assist.

“We ramped up for a major endeavor,” recalled Coalition co-founder Jeri Seratti Goldman.

“In reality only a few families landed in Santa Clarita,” shared Diane Green, the Coalition’s other co-founder. “We immediately assisted the Debose’s and the few other families who arrived by finding housing and paying the deposit and rent. For the Debose it was a Creekside townhouse.”

“The Coalition also provided plenty of emotional support,” remembered Denise.

Noel was able to keep his job at Lockheed. Denise with her Special Ed teaching skills found work at the Castaic school district. The boys were enrolled in Valencia High School and College of Canyons.

Noel added, “We remained in Santa Clarita 14 months while we rebuilt our Louisiana home. We came to Santa Clarita with only the clothes we were wearing. But we felt fortunate because the only things we lost were possessions.”

Denise remembered, “We lost all our possessions, everything, even our cars. Noel Jr. was heartbroken losing his irreplaceable Michael Jordan memorabilia. We escaped New Orleans with enough clothing for three days. Noel was just wearing his slippers.”

The Debose moved back to New Orleans in November 2006. In 2010, having returned to their lives in their rebuilt home in Louisiana, made a $500.00 donation to the Santa Clarita Coalition.

As Noel shared back then, “The Coalition helped us when we didn’t have anything. Now we are in a position where we could help, and this is what we want to do.”

Denise and Noel have occasionally returned to visit friends in Santa Clarita. They drove cross country to reconnect again this week.

“They were only possessions that we lost. When we arrived in Santa Clarita one week after Katrina, we were in a state of shock,” said Denise. “The whole valley wrapped their arms around us, held our hands and gave us hope. It was a classic example of people helping people. This valley is amazing.”

Noel added, “When we share our experience in Santa Clarita with other Katrina victims, they don’t believe us. Their recovery didn’t look anything like ours. Our Santa Clarita experience was truly unique.”

Now if Noel Jr. can just get his hands on another autographed Michael Jordan jersey, his life would be complete.

To learn more about the Santa Clarita Coalition click here.

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