As Hurricane Katrina came ashore in New Orleans 10 years ago, no one could have imagined the devastation she would leave in her wake.
Henri Smith left New Orleans ahead of the storm - one of millions of refugees from the Gulf Coast - watching coverage of the storm on television from hotel rooms.
"It's still vivid in my memory," said Smith. "People floating in the water face down. And I never could get that out of my mind."
He's been back to New Orleans a couple of times, and he see's the progress that's been made, but he is disturbed by what he calls tourist attraction that untouched parts of the ninth ward have become - empty foundations, waiting for someone to care.
"I don't think that they're being respected. That's what I think," he said. "I think that those foundations should be taken care of and I think they should respect the souls that lost their lives in Katrina down in the ninth ward.
He says he's happy living in Gloucester now, but New Orleans is on his mind.
"I miss the food. I really miss the food," said Smith. "Same as when I was in the military. I always missed my crawfish. That's the main thing I really wanted, is my crawfish and some of my po' boys."
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Smith brought some New Orleans to the North Shore with him. A jazz singer, he performs in the area constantly, teaming up with Charles Neville at the Larcom Theater in Beverly for a 2014 concert.
He added that while he loves living in Gloucester and the residents who love his music, he does not love the New England winters.
