Life for Alan and Lynette before Hurricane Katrina ran fairly smoothly. Alan graduated from Chalmette High and served in the U.S. Army from 1974-1987. A thunderbolt of love subsequently struck Alan and Lynette, and they were married in 1987. They have four children, two boys and two girls. The boys attended Chalmette High just like their father and all children still live at home. In 1994 Alan began working for the St. Bernard sheriff’s department and has been there ever since. In the days leading up to the storm, Lynette and her children evacuated to Tennessee, taking one suitcase each, while Alan stayed to work with the sheriff’s office. Alan was unable to contact his family for five days after the storm, and they believed him to be dead.

Before Katrina, they rented a first floor apartment, and because they didn’t own their home, they did not receive any help from Road Home. Alan’s childhood home was still standing, but was uninhabitable. His parents faced health problems, and consequently moved to Metairie to be close to the hospital there. They left Alan their house. The hardest part of this experience for Alan was dealing with the rather infamous deaths at the St. Rita’s nursing home in St. Bernard Parish, but his family and the community is what keeps the family holding on. With his unrelenting faith he exits St. Bernard Project stating, “St. Bernard is home. We’re here, and we’re coming back strong!”