Jacqueline (Jackie) Clark was one of the last to leave New Orleans and the last of 17 taken from her 7th floor apartment by the National Guard. She left only after she realized that while she could survive the hurricane and the water, there would be no services available in New Orleans for months. That day the National Guardsman said, "They couldn't leave a lovely lady like you behind". She left only after she was assured that they would take her along with her cat, No-No, and her scooter. So they carried Jackie and all her possessions down seven flights of stairs, dismantled her scooter and settled her in a bus to take her and others to the airport.

Jacqueline (Jackie) Clark and her cat, No-No, recent transplants from New Orleans to Des Moines, Iowa, are spending playful time together after their arduous ordeal in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Jackie and twenty others, many with animals, were put on an airplane the next morning - destination unknown - shortly after takeoff they were told they were coming to Iowa. Thirty-nine years ago she spent two years in the Job Corp. in Clinton , IA so she knew a little about Iowa and a lot about the people.

Soon after her first footsteps onto Iowa soil, she was sponsored by the Des Moines Black Ministerial Alliance - they took care of all her needs.

Jackie lived in subsidized Section 8 housing in New Orleans. Elsie Mason Manor Manager Frank Sporial along with First Baptist Housing Foundations and America Baptist Homes of the Midwest committed their organization to helping all Hurricane evacuees resettle and doing whatever it takes to provide housing for them. They have had several hurricane evacuees make their home at the Manor. Frank helped Jackie connect to her old Section 8 subsidy and convert it over to Elsie Mason.

Her first job in Iowa was with The Human Touch part of the Black Ministerial Alliance, in their recycled clothing department. She now works four hours a day at the Iowa Commission for the Blind.

Jackie stands proudly before her Christmas Tree during her first Christmas in Des Moines.

During the Christmas season she wanted to thank all her new friends in Iowa and invited 40 of them to a Christmas Party in her new home at Elsie Mason Manor in downtown Des Moines to thank them for everything they've done for her. Elsie Mason Manor is affordable housing for seniors and persons with mobility impairments. Five miles of enclosed skywalks connect Elsie Mason Manor with all the businesses, restaurants and shops in downtown Des Moines. And, during these winter months, many just bask in the warm sun in the skywalks large windows. Jackie can be seen on her scooter exploring Des Moines via the skywalks.

Visitors to Jackie's apartment agree with her when she says: "My home looks like I've been here ten years, I've been given so much to make my home comfortable for No-No and me".

While Des Moines does not have big city amenities, she misses only Saint Patrick's Day and public transportation, which ran 24/7 in New Orleans . Jackie feels she just existed in New Orleans , staying to herself most of the time - in Des Moines she says she is living -- not existing, making friends, working, going places and seeing people. She has her cat, No-No and her scooter -- she's happy. And, she's looking forward to the Iowa State Fair this summer.