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Dr. Jeffrey Rouse is the Orleans Parish coroner—a job he describes as the “interface between law and medicine.” A decade ago, he was preparing for a life in academia, not public office. Support Death, Sex & Money by becoming a monthly sustaining member. Sign up now.

Dr. Kiersta Kurtz-Burke spent Hurricane Katrina inside New Orleans’ Charity Hospital. Now that she's got two kids, she keeps her gas tank full in case they need to evacuate. Support Death, Sex & Money by becoming a monthly sustaining member. Sign up now.

Big Freedia is a reality TV star and fixture on New Orleans' bounce scene. But days after Hurricane Katrina, she was sleeping on the street outside of the city's convention center. Support Death, Sex & Money by becoming a monthly sustaining member. Sign up now.

Simone Bruni started her career in hospitality, and dreamed of eventually being a stay-at-home mom. But when Katrina hit, she was 32 and single. So she started a demolition company. Support Death, Sex & Money by becoming a monthly sustaining member. Sign up now.

When Katrina hit, Terri Coleman was a troublemaker—burning cars and getting stoned. She recalls, “The storm allow[ed] my weird adolescent destruction to be socially acceptable.” Support Death, Sex & Money by becoming a monthly sustaining member. Sign up now.