JAMES BRUNDY JR
Many people by now are may very familiar with the book 1 Dead in Attic written by a local New Orleans journalist. It is a very poignant read and has touched the hearts of many. The title alone, sadly, was an all too common sight post Katrina. But there was one attic here in New Orleans, the attic at 2727 Metropolitan St., in the 9th ward, where life did not end, but it began!
A boat still rests next door, amid weeds, to 2727 Metropolitan St. in the 9th ward where 19 year old Waldrica Nathan decided to ride out Hurricane Katrina with her fiancee James Brundy. It was the home of his parents. James Brundy was also the father of Waldrica's unborn child. The quaint little blue home sits in the middle of the block on a dead end street.
On either side of 2727 Metropolitan St. homes remain abandoned, in disrepair and over grown with weeds and shrubbery. Above, not only can you still see the damage done to the brick siding by the stagnate water on the house next door to 2727 Metropolitan St., but the markings of search and rescue crews dated 9-27-05 still remain visible.
2727 Metropolitan St. today is fully renovated, lawn kept nicely cut, fresh electrical lines, new paint job , satellite dish and even a cute little mailbox!! As a matter of fact, as the time of this writing it is the only house on that side of the street that shows any signs of life at all.Life and 2727 Metropolitan St. , however, seem to go hand in hand. Waldrica, nine months pregnant, was forced with the rest of the family to take refuge in the tiny attic space as water poured into the house early on Monday morning Aug. 29, 2005. A short time later, Waldrica began to have herfirst contractions. By midnight, over 12 hours later, her water broke. Then it happened. Early in the morning, on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005, in sweltering attic heat and flood waters lapping in the hallway below them, Waldrica with the help of her fiancee and his parents, delivered James Kenneth Brundy Jr.
Actual photo from day of rescue.
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JAMES BRUNDY SR. & WALDRICA NATHAN w/JAMES BRUNDY JR
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First Responder David Hale shakes hands with James Brundy Jr/
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Waldrica Nathan with her son James Brundy Jr, tells her story and reunited with rescuers for first time.
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Internationally known Grandpa Elliott serenades young James Brundy Jr. |
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