© 2024 KEDM
NPR News, Classical and Music of the Delta
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Ben Rongey & Wyatt Higgins Remember 'The Mud, The Sludge And The Slime'

WWNO - New Orleans Public Radio | By Thomas Walsh
Published August 25, 2015 at 6:00 AM EDT

In the immediate days after Hurricane Katrina, BenRongey’sfather gave him a special pass which gave him full access to Jefferson Parish. At the time he was a high school senior and acted accordingly: he called his friend Wyatt Higgins so they could explore the city together.

They smooth-talked a National Guardsman, crossed into Orleans Parish, and headed for Wyatt’s house. Flood waters prevented them from driving into the Gentilly neighborhood, so they parked the car and walked the final trek.

Click here to listen to their story.

Ben and Wyatt both graduated from Brother Martin High School in the spring of 2006. After respective stints in the Air Force and LSU,  they each returned to New Orleans. This interview was recorded at StoryCorps’ mobile studio in New Orleans.

Wyatt Higgins strattles a personal water craft washed ashore during Hurricane Katrina
Ben Rongey /
Wyatt Higgins strattles a personal water craft washed ashore during Hurricane Katrina
Ben Rongey's poses with a broken stop sign along the London Street Canal.
Ben Rongey /
Ben Rongey's poses with a broken stop sign along the London Street Canal.
Wyatt hesitated to explain to his parents how he retrived the family cat after the storm. They weren't as angry as expected.
Ben Rongey /
Wyatt hesitated to explain to his parents how he retrived the family cat after the storm. They weren't as angry as expected.

Copyright 2015 WWNO - New Orleans Public Radio
Louisiana News
Thomas Walsh
Thomas Walsh is an independent radio producer for WWNO. Each week he works to produce new editions of Louisiana Eats and All Things New Orleans, as well as Notes From New Orleans, The Farmer's Market Minute, and The Green Minute. Outside WWNO, Thomas is a volunteer disc jockey for WTUL, where he hosts a weekly live four-hour program broadcasting twentieth century classical music. Thomas has four years experience in audio engineering, and a BA from Trinity University in San Antonio where he double majored in communications and philosophy. Someday he will give away his entire collection of Grateful Dead concerts, which has swelled to unnecessary proportions in recent years.
See stories by Thomas Walsh