From Shelly of Chainbreaker zine comes her story of evacuation and homecoming to New Orleans after the devastation in the wake of hurricane Katrina. Shelly has spent almost 10 years in New Orleans and saw hurricane threats come and go. In this zine she tells her story, from helping neighbors prepare and still doubting the evacuation until she had a “Shit, this is real” moment and escapes New Orleans with friends and animals. Shelly paints you a picture of the city she loves from flora to community.

Shelly discusses arriving at Welcome Centers and the stories of refugees, attempts to contact friends as well as the conditions and FEMA help. She also talks about the heartbreaking homecoming with doctored nametags to feed stray animals left behind. She returns to find the city she loves covered with military, a strange smell, a 6 PM curfew and her home reduced to piles of soggy masses of unsalvagable belongings. This zine is more than a story of the external struggles but also the internal ones through tragedy and change.