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How did it happen?\r\n\r\nIt was late August when it was reported\r\n\"Leave now! Leave now!\" as houses were boarded\r\n\r\nThe city of New Orleans and surrounding areas too\r\nWere scared and nervous - what should they do?\r\n\r\nThe warnings came again that one late afternoon\r\n\"Leave your home! Leave your home! And leave it soon!\"\r\n\r\nBig or little, rich or poor\r\n\"Go now, go now, right out your door!\"\r\n\r\nDogs, cats, disabled and black\r\n\"Leave now, leave now - there is no time to pack!\"\r\n\r\nThe prediction did seem to be somewhat insane\r\nWhat was expected? A category 4 hurricane!\r\n\r\nIt would be a disaster - and this time - no one to blame\r\nFor all of the suffering, heartache and pain\r\n\r\nMost took it seriously\r\nAnd headed out fiercely\r\n\r\nSome went North, some East and some West\r\nStaying with family they thought would be best\r\n\r\nMany followed the orders, demanded by State\r\n\"Report to the Superdome - you cannot afford to be late!\"\r\n\r\nThis was a dome - and for days, their home\r\nSurrounded by thousands, yet all alone\r\n\r\nWhipping winds first blew stronger and stronger\r\nIn time they knew it wouldn\'t be much longer\r\n\r\nWhite-peaked waves came in harder - then higher\r\nA disaster is tragic whether wind, water or fire\r\n\r\nThe pressure from Katrina caused the levees to break\r\nAnd water rushed in, the city — a lake\r\n\r\nBelieve it or not, some people did stay\r\nTo ride out Katrina on that awful, terrible day\r\n\r\nReality began when Katrina reached their toes\r\nWithin minutes, it was even - right with their nose\r\n\r\nThe people were stuck with just one place to go\r\nSo they climbed to the top, it was the attic they chose\r\nWhere they hammered and chiseled their worries and woes\r\n\r\nWith such disbelief as they climbed to their roof\r\nThey opened their eyes to an instant - POOF!\r\nBlinking, rubbing and thinking -- maybe a goof\r\n\r\nBut, no, no goof, what was it that they saw\r\nNot a city - no - not a city at all\r\n\r\nNo buildings, no churches, no stores or stations\r\nNo homes, no restaurants or a place for a vacation\r\n\r\nAnd back to the stadium, it turned into violence\r\nAs our nation stood back in awe and in silence\r\n\r\nLooting, hurting, shooting, no doubt\r\nSurviving, living, that\'s what it\'s about\r\n\r\nEverything destroyed in Katrina\'s path of destruction\r\nThat only support and love to help build new construction\r\n\r\nEven one\'s pride they choose to hide\r\nAs they bury their heads to cry inside\r\n\r\nAs they must go on with what\'s on their backs\r\nThey place all they own in one small sack\r\n\r\nNow - that is how it happened...\r\nBut now, how will it end?\r\n\r\nLoved ones are gone, and people left bare\r\nBut no time is given for grief and despair\r\n\r\nThere is no time to sit back on your lazy chair\r\nLet\'s embrace our nation and show that we care\r\n\r\nWhat can we do? Where should we start?\r\nIt doesn\'t really matter, just give from the heart\r\n\r\nIf you have that desire to help and pitch in\r\nMaybe you can start in your very own kitchen\r\n\r\nSearch high, search low\r\nMaybe send them some \"dough\"\r\n\r\nLook in, look out, you can look all around\r\nLet\'s get this message flowing through our town\r\n\r\nLove and prayers is what we can send\r\nAnd anything we find, we are willing to lend\r\n\r\nBecause working together in helping things mend\r\nThat in itself - is how it will end