Fifth Ward – Resilient Houston: Documenting Hurricane Harvey

James Joseph

James Joseph has lived in Houston for most of his life and is a community organizer in Fifth Ward. He remembers previous hurricanes, like Allison and Ike, and their effects…

Keith Downey

Public History graduate students Allison Sáenz and Karla A. Lira interviewed Fifth Ward resident, Keith Downey as part of the "Resilient Houston: Oral History Project." This project is part of…

Harvey Survivors

Reverend James Caldwell

For the majority of his life, Reverend James Caldwell has lived in Houston, Texas, where he experienced tropical storms and hurricanes. Caldwell mentions Hurricane Harvey did not discriminate when causing…

Harvey Survivors

Helen Benjamin

Helen Benjamin has lived in Houston for more than fifty years. She moved here as a teenager to attend beauty school while also studying at Wheatley High School. In 2001,…

Harvey Survivors

Curtis Elder

Curtis Elder is a native Houstonian who was born and raised in Fifth Ward. He has lived in the Scenic Wood neighborhood for much of his life. Elder remembers evacuating…

Harvey Survivors

John Young Sr.

John Young was born and raised in Houston’s Fifth Ward and has lived there all his life. He recalls that in his youth, the neighborhood was peaceful, with good teachers…

Harvey Survivors

Herman Baker

Herman Baker is a private security guard who works in Fifth Ward. During Hurricane Harvey, he and his family went to Brenham, Texas. While Baker did not receive damage to…