Whole Life Times: Searching for Ora Lee

October 2005 | Points of Contact

Searching for Ora Lee

In the aftermath of Huricane Katrina, we are all neighbors

by Sara Nuss-Galles

In the early aftermath of Hurricane Katrina I was so overwhelmed by terrible images that, like most people, I was desperate to help. But what difference could I make from Southern California? My husband and I contributed to several charities, but donations felt dismally insufficient. I needed to do something tangible.

My opportunity appeared on Craigs list. For those unfamiliar with it, Craigslist.org is the online equivalent of a general store bulletin board. It’s the place to score a job, barter a Halloween costume, troll for a love connection or discuss UFOs.

Once Katrina hit, Craigslist morphed into a virtual water cooler for missing people, help, fundraisers and convoys of supplies. I surfed for news about Bonnie and Roger, friends whose house on stilts was perilously close to Lake Pontchartrain and the broken levees. I didn’t find them that day—but I found my mission.

Among the “searching for” postings, one offered, “Free phone calls for Katrina victims.” Another pleaded, “Please let us help you find your loved ones.” When I came to, “Here is a way to help,” I clicked. Those messages were from Lifelist.us, volunteers who created a toll free number for Katrina victims to leave contact information and messages for people they wanted to reach. Then, Lifelist volunteers made calls to relay the messages. I remember thinking, I have a telephone and time, what could be more satisfying than sharing the news that a loved one is safe?

Saturday, I e-mailed Lifelist my readiness to make calls to reunite people. In return, I received a warm e-mail from Ava thanking me for volunteering and explaining that Lifelist quickly realized that finding missing loved ones was the critical need. Would I consider searching for missing people on the databases that were growing by the hour, she asked. Clearly, this was more daunting than the upbeat, “I’ve got a message from your Aunt Rose” calls I’d imagined. I sucked it up and signed on anyway.

My search was for Janice M’s relatives in the New Orleans area, including 80-year old family matriarch Ora Lee, her daughter and grandchildren, and three cousins. For several hours I scoured more than 30 databases, from the Salvation Army and Red Cross with thousands of names, to some with dozens of names hastily compiled by local shelters. I searched the databases individually and listed Janice’s family on every site that I could.

Then I had to call Janice. I was nervous. I also knew that I had an out. If speaking to family members was too uncomfortable, Lifelist offered to have another volunteer call.

Steeling myself to be calm and positive, I phoned Janice. She answered immediately, as though she had been sitting by the phone. I explained who I was, what I was doing and what I had discovered: nothing yet. I assured her that I’d listed her family on several databases, I’d repeat the search tomorrow, and I gave her my phone number.

As I searched the next day, I conjured up Ora Lee: what she looked like, how her health was, if she had identification. I hoped that she, her daughter and grandkids were together.

Still, no luck. I called Janice, who was again by the phone and thanked me profusely for my “good work.” Her faith that her family was safe helped me feel positive. Next day, same story.

Tuesday, near 10 pm, the phone rang. It was Janice bubbling with great news. She’d spoken to Ora Lee! She, her daughter and grandchildren had safely evacuated to Baton Rouge. Janice’s joy made my day.

That left Uncle Lionel, Yolanda and Kreshell. The databases grew by the hour and I kept searching, wanting desperately to give Janice what she’d given me. Thursday it happened. To make sure I wasn’t wishing it, I triple checked. Lionel was safe in the Monroe Civic Center in Monroe, LA! Then, like magic, I found Yolanda, newly registered in San Antonio.

My heart raced with joy. I left Janice a message, called my husband and e-mailed Lifelist. Lionel and Yolanda were evacuees, but they were alive.

Within the hour, Janice called back. She thanked me profusely for finding her family and pronounced that God was using me as a messenger. I told her how much I’d gotten from this effort. I bubbled with happiness knowing I’d reunited loved ones and brought comfort to a family.

It’s far from over. Lifelist rewarded me with bravos and two new searches. I’m still seeking Janice’s other cousin, as well as Harold from New Orleans and Shmeka of Mobile. They’re out there, and I’ll keep looking for them. As to Bonnie and Roger, I found them in Alaska where they’d gone to visit their son two days before Katrina hit.

Would that all the Katrina stories were so sanguine.

Sara Nuss-Galles’ work has appeared widely including the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. She has also served as a guest commentator on Public Radio’s MarketPlace.

LA has the bad rap of being a freeway city where we talk on cell phones behind tinted car windows. But hearts touch every day here, often in unexpected ways and places. Points of Contact is the antidote to urban living. Submissions welcome. E-mail: [click to e-mail].

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