Jesmyn Ward at LIVE from the NYPL

As Hurricane Isaac continues to pound the Gulf Coast, we remember the destruction that region suffered when Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans and surrounding areas on this day seven years ago. Yet out of Katrina’s ruin rose an abundance of narratives and poetry created in remembrance of what was lost. Jesmyn Ward, who was brought up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, is among the authors who expressed her feelings about Katrina in writing. She came to LIVE in May to discuss her novel Salvage the Bones, which focuses on a family’s struggle to find meaning in the days leading up to, and immediately following, Katrina. If you need an escape from the raw news coverage of Isaac, watch Jesmyn Ward discuss her work that was born out of natural disaster.

We hope everyone who is currently experiencing Hurricane Isaac stays safe.