Cape family opens home to evacuees

A Cape Girardeau couple opened their home to a group of French citizens forced to evacuate New Orleans over the weekend before Hurricane Gustav hit, testing the city's new levees.

Kristopher Naeger, formerly a local Cape Girardeau artist, and his wife Delphine Roussel, still remember the four days they spent trapped without sufficient water, food, or power after they stayed in the Louisiana city despite the approach of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

For this storm, they led a procession Friday night to the home of Vickie and Rick Naeger, Kristopher Naeger's parents, on Perryville Road. More than a dozen of Roussel's colleagues, who work with her in New Orleans for several different university international programs, came with the couple.

"They just didn't have any place to go," Naeger said.

Michel Moutin, a father of three, brought his wife and children to weather the storm at the Naegers' home. He said he and his wife have tried to shelter their children as much as possible from the approaching disaster.

"We tried to protect them," Moutin said.

Naeger said they've caught parts of newscasts on television about Gustav, but for the most part haven't wanted to dwell on what might be happening to their home.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Delphine Roussel and her husband, Kristopher Naeger, talked about leaving New Orleans to stay with his parents in Cape Girardeau and avoid Hurricane Gustav.

Fabienne Lachevre, another evacuee staying at the Naeger residence, said she remembers seeing images on television during Katrina but not knowing how bad the situation really was. "I was much more prepared this time — I knew where I was going, and who I was going with," she said.

Everyone seemed to be much better prepared this time around, Naeger and his wife said. They began making plans last week when commentators questioned the ability of the city's new levees to protect it, they said.

"We knew the seriousness of it this time," Roussel said.

This time, they made sure to stay in close contact with their friends and ensured everyone had a safe place to go.

Kevin Cardamone, a business owner who also came to Cape Girardeau with the group, owns a bed and breakfast about 45 blocks from the Mississippi River.

He recently finished making repairs to the roofs of his inn and cottage, which were damaged by Katrina. Now he says he's just waiting to find out how much damage Gustav will do.

Both Naeger and his wife said they felt better being around other New Orleans residents who could understand what they were going through.

"Its important for us to be together, we need that support system, so we don't feel lost like we did before," Naeger said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245

Have a comment?

Log on to semissourian.com/today