Hurricane Katrina Survivor Turned Oklahoman Says Faith Kept Her Strong

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Thousands of people fled the gulf following Hurricane Katrina and many made Oklahoma home. Five years later, one survivor stayed in the Sooner State and said faith helped her through the hard times.

If you've ever questioned faith, just ask Cassandra Allen. After Hurricane Katrina, she barely had a leg to stand on, but now she considers herself blessed.

"I thought I had it going on as you would say, I had a nice house, vehicles," said Allen.

But that was before Hurricane Katrina destroyed everything Cassandra Allen had built for her and her family in New Orleans.

"I remember looking at the T.V. news and the area where my house once was and it was underwater and I remember just balling," said Allen.

With nowhere to go, Allen and her three kids moved to Perkins, Oklahoma to live with her brother.

"I didn't think in a million years I would be in Oklahoma because when I came here to visit my brother I would see cows and horses and that was things we saw at the zoo," said the Hurricane Katrina survivor.

At that time, Cassandra Allen said she did the only thing she knew how, she turned to God.

"I just started utilizing faith and eventually things started getting better for me," Allen said.

Allen was able to land a job, get her kids in school and her life back on track. Today she is teaching specials needs students at Cushing High School.

"I've done this along time and you realize this is someone you need to grab," said Cushing High School Principal Jim Lauerman.

"I feel like I'm blessed. I have a principal and a vice principal that support me on everything. I just feel like I'm a part of the family," said Allen. "We always say God has a plan for our lives and I've actually seen it play out."

Allen said she will not move back to New Orleans. She said the security of living in small town Oklahoma isn't something she willing to give up.