After weathering Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans victims share their amazing experience. 13 News has been following their story as the friends and family of WIBW employee Dan Hoffman are now here in Topeka.

The Brousse and Hosli families hunkered down in a New Orleans hospital as Hurricane Katrina hit.

"It just woke me up at 4AM and we could hear windows blowing out," said Gregory Brousse.

After the hurricane hit the families were stranded with 14 feet of water surrounding the hospital. Fortunately they had someone close who came to help.

"My husband is a captain with the New Orleans police department. He came through sewer waters to get a boat and get us out of there," remembered Michelle Hosli.

The families then fled to Topeka close to family and friends. Though life living in a hotel isn't home sweet home, they're experiencing heartland hospitality.

"People from Topeka would give you the shirt off their back. People in New Orleans are not like that," said Gabrille Hosli.

They even enjoyed a picnic as the guest of honor at the Washburn family day and football game on Saturday.
Michelle Hosli said,
"I'm glad we're here. It's nice to see everybody normal here cause everything we had is gone the city's gone."

Although Saturday's festivities do help begin the healing process, the families are still concerned about their hometown."

Including Michelle Hosli's husband who's still working to restore order in New Orleans.
"He's dealing with looters and recovering dead bodies," explained Michelle.

While they're on the road to recovery things won't be the same until they're all together.
Michelle said,
"I'm depressed and scared. I haven't seen my husband and I don't know when I'm going see him again."

The families' kids have enrolled in local schools while they wait to return to New Orleans though they aren't sure when that will be possible.