Dawn, a native of St Bernard Parish, never placed much stock in the weatherman’s warnings to leave the Parish during bad weather.  The urgency of Katrina’s warnings changed all that.  Dawn, her one-year-old daughter Hannah, Hannah’s father, and several relatives packed three days of clothes and began the journey to Florida.  What they thought would be a short visit with extended family turned into a two- week stay in a one- bedroom one-bathroom trailer with thirty- four other people and 13 pets.  After the news of the complete destruction of the Parish reached Dawn, she and her family decided to stay in Florida for several months, renting a small two-bedroom apartment in Hammond.  Eventually, the small space and longing for home took its toll on the family; Dawn decided that she had to go back. When Dawn came back to the Parish, she was devastated at the destruction that met her.  Dawn took the money she received from FEMA and bought a gutted house with the hopes of fixing it up and making it a home for her family.  St Bernard Project was the only organization willing to help Dawn.  She thanks the many volunteers who have help turn her house in St Bernard into a home for herself and Hannah.