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Before Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in August, Jessica Watson, 16, had just started school at East Jefferson High School and finished orientation at her new job at New Orleans Seafood and Hamburgers.
"It couldn't have come at a worse time," Watson said of the disaster.
Now, the 11th grader and her 4-year-old brother Johnny are living with their grandparents, Shirley and Mike Niblick, in Silver Lake and Jessica is attending Warsaw Community High School. Her father, John, remains in Louisiana, just north of New Orleans, applying for Federal Emergency Management Agency money to get their life back in order.
Though Jessica has been to the Silver Lake area before, visiting her grandparents' summer home, this is the first time she has ever been to a different school. Jessica's parents both originally are from Chicago. Her grandparents are now Silver Lake residents year-round.
At her old school, Jessica said she was a member of the spirit club and on the majorette team. It was having to leave her school and new job behind that Jessica said made her mad, because she was excited about them.
On the first day of the hurricane, Jessica said they didn't evacuate. They stayed for Ivan and they stayed for Katrina to see if it would turn. They did pack up the house, but that Sunday, they had to evacuate to Alexandria, La. They camped in the woods.
When they packed to evacuate, Jessica said they were told to pack for six months.
"I didn't think it would be that bad," Jessica said. She packed her clothes, but she worries about her photographs and other stuff she couldn't bring.
She worries about their house and the tree next to it, afraid it might fall on the house. The family hasn't heard about their home yet.
She hasn't heard from all her friends or some neighbors. In the confusion after the hurricane, Jessica said a pregnant 16-year-old friend was left behind because of a misunderstanding of who she was supposed to evacuate with from the area. Jessica hasn't heard about her yet.
"It still never really hit me until I saw the aftermath. I just can't believe it," said Jessica.
Jessica left her cell phone with her father. Since he has her phone, Jessica is without a cell phone and can not call him. He has to call her, and has to travel 20 minutes to make a call.
When she talked with her dad, she told him that if she liked WCHS, she'd finish the school year here.
"I'm still kind of adjusting and finding my way," Jessica said.
She's also adjusting to the colder temperatures in Indiana. "It's freezing to me," she said. "In New Orleans, it only goes down 30 or 40 (degrees)." If she's going to stay in Indiana through the winter, she said she will need winter coats and clothing.
To help pay for the necessities she needs, Jessica said she is trying to find a job.
Her brother Johnny, she said, is still adjusting. He is used to being just around Jessica and their father, but he seems excited to be in his new surroundings. They are trying to get him on a schedule.
Jessica said it would be nice to have a cell phone to call her father. "I can't call him, I have to wait for him to call me," she said.
Jessica and Johnny are receiving some local help. Our Father's House provided the Niblicks with a car seat for Johnny. Wal-Mart, said Kristin Artrip, of WCHS, is providing Jessica with a list of items. "I never had to ask twice," said Artrip.
Guidance Counselor Diane Quance said the social services have been great in expediting help to Jessica and Johnny. Dr. Joe Thallemer is providing eye care for Jessica as she is without her eyeglasses. All of Jessica's school supplies were left behind in New Orleans, but WCHS teachers gave her some supplies, Quance said. For Johnny, he is without books or toys.
"He needs more toys to play with, poor thing," said Jessica.
If anyone wants to make a monetary donation, or provide new or gently used items for Jessica or/and Johnny, contact Quance at WCHS. Any items the family can not use will be donated to Our Father's House.
Quance said Jessica is dealing with the situation well and is an excellent student.
"Her positive attitude about all of this has made it easy for her to adjust," said Quance. "... Her positive attitude made it so much better for her and her brother."
