In a Town Swept by Storm, a Wound Before Healing

This time a year ago, the river that separates southeast Texas and Louisiana reflected the blossoms of Fourth of July fireworks. The next month, Hurricane Katrina evacuees streamed across that river and were greeted by Orange with food, shelter and hugs.

People here just could not imagine. Three weeks later they could, as Hurricane Rita sent nearly all 19,000 residents fleeing north. When they returned to their small city, which calls itself "the sweetest taste of Texas, any way you slice it," the taste of Orange hinted of salt — maybe from the Gulf of Mexico, maybe from something else.

from the NY Times