BREAKING NEWS
a GHOST RIDER PICTURES PRODUCTION
"When you have a dream and hope, get up and go do it."
Rockey Vaccarella, Hurricane Survivor and Dreamer
Mr. President,
the job's not done. Don't forget about us.
You can
do it Rock!
'cause frankly,
I'm out of here!
8/26/10
FOX 8 NEWS
5 years later: Rockey's new mission
Reported by: Nancy Parker, Anchor
Email: nparker@fox8tv.net
When famed boxer Rocky Marciano ruled the ring in the 1950's, Rockey Vaccarella wasn't even born yet.
"His mother and father loved Rocky Maricano the boxer, so that's where Rockey got his name," said Rockey's Vaccarella's wife Carolyn.
When Katrina's storm surge devastated St. Bernard parish, Vaccarella proved he was a fighter too. Rockey and his son were stranded on the roof of their flooded Meraux home. Months later Rockey teamed up with film producer Steve Scaffidi to document an historic trip to Washington D.C.
They pulled a FEMA trailer just like the one Rockey and his family called home after the storm. President Bush met with him but now five years later, Vaccarella has a tough time remembering any of it.
"I didn't take a trailer to see Bush, I didn't do it," said Vaccarella.
"He's confused about things," his wife said. "But he's come a long way since this first happened."
What happened to Vaccarrella is still somewhat of a mystery. His wife carolyn says the last time she could remember Rockey being well is more than three months ago when he was working in the garden around their renovated Meraux home. In May, doctors diagnosed Rockey with Encephalitis, acute inflammation of the brain.
It infected his brain and caused swelling and bleeding in his brain and unfortunately he's been left with damage we have to deal with," Carolyn said.
A day before he was diagnosed Rockey was actually pulled over by a state trooper for improper lane usage and arrested for DWI.
By the time Carolyn bonded him out of jail, the next night she says, he had to be carried out.
"He couldn't walk and talk. He couldn't brush his teeth. Now he can do that on his own."
Steve Scaffidi tried to pull Rockey's memories forward.
"Rock, remember when we towed that trailer to the washington remember that talk about president Bush." Scaffidi said.
Moments later, shades of the real Rockey..came bursting through.
"I said Mr. President don't forget us, the job is not done. A lot of people are out there that need help and a lot of stuff going on.
Carolyn says doctors seem pretty hopeful that he's going to do well. They say in many instances the brain can repair itself.
"He's gonna come back. He's going to bounce back and be my old Rockey." She said.
8/26/10
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Anniversary Puts New Focus on New Orleans
By BRIAN STELTER
At the Weather Channel, this is “Hurricane Week.” A number of its prime-time shows have taken half-hour looks at Katrina, including two episodes of “Storm Stories” about the ways that animals were affected. Its biggest feature this week is “Forgotten on the Bayou,” a documentary produced in 2007 about Rockey Vaccarella, a New Orleans man whose anger about the delays in rebuilding took him all the way to the White House. It will have its television premiere Friday at 8 p.m. Read More
8/18/10
THE WEATHER CHANNEL Marks 5-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with World TV Premiere of Forgotten on the Bayou
Award-winning documentary anchors network's ‘Hurricane Week' with Katrina-related programming and new episodes of ‘Storm Stories' beginning Aug. 22
Meteorologists Jim Cantore and Mike Bettes will provide live reports from
New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast
(ATLANTA) Aug. 18, 2010 - The Weather Channel® (TWC) marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina during "Hurricane Week," Aug. 22-29, with the world television premiere of "Forgotten on the Bayou," Friday, Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. ET. This powerful award-winning documentary tells one man's incredible story of surviving Hurricane Katrina and his journey to get his message of rebuilding New Orleans directly to the president of the United States.
Like many others affected by Katrina, Rockey Vaccarella and his family lost everything, but he was determined to rebuild his hometown. A year later, the slow progress and recovery fueled Rockey's ambition to get in front of the president to let him know that the residents of New Orleans are still here and how there is still more work to be done. "Forgotten on the Bayou" - (2007) documents Rockey's journey to the White House, which gained worldwide media attention.
During "Hurricane Week," TWC will showcase Katrina-related programming including the premiere of "Riding It Out," narrated by Storm Tracker Jim Cantore that tells survival stories of people who decided to stay during the evacuation of Hurricane Katrina. In addition, new episodes of the popular series "Storm Stories" and additional hurricane-related specials will be shown throughout the week.
Beginning Aug. 27, live on-location reports from Cantore and fellow meteorologist Mike Bettes will be given from New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast to speak with residents on what progress has been made five years later.
The themed week will be sponsored by Duracell, the world's leading manufacturer of high-performance alkaline batteries, which will be featured during severe weather tips, tropics updates and lifestyle segments.
"Hurricane Week" programming highlights include:
"Forgotten on the Bayou" (premieres Aug. 27, 8 p.m. ET) After seeking refuge on his rooftop and holding onto a rope for four hours to stay alive during Hurricane Katrina, Rockey Vaccarella, a former Golden Glove champion, knew that quitting was not an option. After noticing the government's sluggish pace to rebuild his neighborhood and other parts of New Orleans, Rockey decided to hook up a mock FEMA trailer and drive from Louisiana to the White House in order to meet with the president.
8/18/10
Katrina celebrity faces tough recovery
By Kim Gritter, Times Picayune
Rockey Vaccarella has had his share of ups and downs. In 1999, he endured the untimely death of his 19-year-old son. Six years later he found himself clinging to the roof of his Meraux home fighting for his life for more than four hours during Hurricane Katrina. Read More
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