Ronald and Jacquie

3 of 4
Love in the Time of Katrina
Romance was the last thing Jacquie and Ronald were thinking about when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in August 2005. Ronald was struggling just to stay alive on the roof of his brother's home. Meanwhile, across town Jacquie was trapped in her house. As the water poured in around her, she broke through drywall and swam to safety.

Ronald and Jacquie both sought shelter in the New Orleans Convention Center where they met and instantly bonded. When they were evacuated from the convention center, they sat together on the plane to Salt Lake City, and by the time it landed they had found love.

Jacquie and Ronald were married just four weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. The newlyweds now live in an apartment in Salt Lake City, where they're building a new life together. "This is the first time in a long time that I've been happy," Jacquie says.