[StBernard] “FIRESTORM: Hurricane Katrina and the St. Bernard Fire Department”

Westley Annis westley at da-parish.com
Thu May 3 22:55:46 EDT 2007


Everyone should read this book. It's fabulous.-----


“FIRESTORM: Hurricane Katrina and the St. Bernard Fire Department”, is a new book published by local author, Michelle Mahl Buuck. Based on scores of interviews with department members and nearly one year of research, the book is a 300-page personal account that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It is poignant stories of individual struggles and the ultimate struggle of a Fire Chief trying to hold his department together.

Packed with personal photos provided by the fire fighters, the book gives the reader a glimpse into those dark days – through the eyes of the men and women of the fire department.

Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, St. Bernard was a crippled Parish. Firefighters became rescuers, food and shelter providers, mechanics, road workers, and medical first responders. This was done without outside help, supplies, equipment, or communication. Most importantly, they had the unprecedented task of functioning while watching their homes disappear beneath the flood waters and coming to the private realization that they had lost everything. Fire Chief Tommy Stone believes it is a story that should be told. St. Bernard Parish District D councilman Craig Taffaro, who wrote the foreword to the book, says it is important that the devastating effect Hurricane Katrina had on St. Bernard Parish be documented.

“It is important because it is a way to ensure that the tragic events of Hurricane Katrina and the heroic responses of so many are not lost in time,” Taffaro said.

“People need to find out the truth about what the first responders went through to save the citizens and help the community, Stone said, “I think the readers will be totally surprised by a lot of things that happened.”

Buuck, the mother of a St. Bernard Fire Fighter, comes from a family with three generations of fire fighters, and spent 12 years (1992-2004) as a freelance writer, writing community news in St. Bernard Parish. Proceeds of this book will be donated by the author to the St. Bernard Fire Fighters Local 1468 Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.

The book can be purchased by calling: 1-888-795-4274, or online at: www.xlibris.com/bookstore
For more information, contact Michelle Mahl Buuck at: (504) 214-1291.





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