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A Tulsa man, forced to flee his home 10 years ago after Hurricane Katrina nearly wiped out New Orleans, shared his story with FOX23 this weekend.
Robert Wimer had never been to Oklahoma before Katrina struck, but he had to choose somewhere to go when the storm flooded streets, destroyed buildings and left nearly 2,000 people dead.
“I think about it a lot,” Wimer said.
Wimer lived in New Orleans for decades. He never thought he’d leave.
“The water got so high, so fast,” Wimer said.
He and his family stayed in the Superdome for days. He was there when the roof collapsed.
“I could look straight up and see it. It took the top off,” Wimer said.
During his time there, his main concern was his sister and her young daughter. They all made it out safely, but as he was on a bus headed for Muskogee, they were going in a different direction. It took him years to track them down.
Wimer now sees himself as blessed. He was able to make it past a situation that many people weren’t. He said he’s thankful for those who have helped into make a life in Oklahoma.
His sister passed away in 2007. Wimer is still trying to reconnect with her children.
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