For the people that work there, you know, this was part of what our training was and a lot of people that worked at that hospital.

We were attracted to a kind of chaotic environment.

That's why we were there.

This is death, sex, and money in New Orleans. The show from WNYC about the things we think about a lot and need to talk about more.

I'm Anna Sale.

When the thick summer heat settles over New Orleans, it all comes back to Kirste Kurtzburg.

The body remembers when it gets hot, I tend to have more dreams.

It's hurricane season too, so you know, you hear on the news,

okay, and you're thinking to yourself,

I got to make sure I have a tank full of gas.

I have to have these things in place

in case I need to evacuate. Ten years ago, Kirsta didn't evacuate.

She was inside New Orleans Charity Hospital,

the public hospital that had served New Orleans residents

rich and poor, in some form since the 18th century.

Charity Hospital was a pretty chaotic place day in and day out.

So there was that level of that this was what we always did, maybe just a little bit more insane.

Kirstah is a rehab physician, and as Katrina hit New Orleans and the levies failed,

she was with more than 350 stranded patients.

Water flooded into the hospital.

Windows were shattered by the wind and there was no power.

It's like by now it's 106 degrees.

...