As Hurricane Irene lashes out on the East Coast, The Bywater community is remembering Hurricane Katrina's raging winds and water, six years ago.
"I hope they don't have to deal with what we had to deal with during in and the aftermath of Katrina," Mandy Pumilia, Bywater Neighborhood Association, said.
Over 100 volunteers with City Year and the Bywater Neighborhood Association worked hard to clean up a blighted area on Poland Avenue, which time forgot in the aftermath of Katrina.
All their tough work showed their dedication to renewal and rebuilding.
"It's the spirit that will continue to rebuild the city until we are done," Kristin Gisleson-Palmer said.
District C City Councilperson, Kristin Gisleson-Palmer pitched in to help. She said everyone needs to take ownership in cleaning up their neighborhoods.
"We have to find ways to connect and make sure everyone takes part in rebuilding the city," she said.
Jaimie Colica survived Katrina. Now she lives in New York and she decided to evacuate to New Orleans because of Irene's threat.
Colica said she couldn't think of riding out the storm anywhere else.
"It's been great to see what's happened in New Orleans in the last six years. Hopefully if a lot happens out in New York, there will be people coming from all over to help," she said.
The workers feel for those caught in Irene's dangerous path. They said Katrina should be a lesson.
"New Orleans folks have incredible resilency. It's a prime example of how people will not fall down," Brett Sutton with City Year, said.
