By Beth Chauvin
In the days following Hurricane Ida, nearly 1,200 Tulane students evacuated to Houston, where they were temporarily housed at the Hyatt Hotel as they made arrangements to return home while our uptown campus was being repaired. The short notice evacuation, compounded by the shock of experiencing such a powerful storm, meant that students were unprepared to be gone from their residences for so long. Luckily, Houston Tulane Alumni Association officer Heather Yanak (NC ’97) was present to lead the charge to support them. Heather secured the hotel’s hospitality suite to host the team of Newcomb and Tulane volunteers that organized and distributed donated supplies from the local community in Houston. The volunteers included our own Newcomb Alumnae Association President-Elect, Helene Sheena (NC ’87), along with her husband, Ronnie (A&S ’85, M *90), and their daughter, Brittney Sheena (SSE ’18).
Thanks to generous alumni, students had opportunities to go to an Astros baseball game, art museums, and even take in some concerts during their time in Houston. They also had several evening social events at the Hyatt, including one involving bubble tea and other treats. Newcomb Institute extends heartfelt gratitude to all the alumnae who offered their support to students during this challenging semester.