photo by Amanda Akey

In August, 2005, Erin Akey (then Titman), had a home in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, where she lived with her three boys, ages 13, 9, and 5. She was an ordinary woman living an ordinary life and working to keep her family operating smoothly. 

August 28, 2005, changed everything. Erin packed her family, a few precious mementos, and clothing for each of them for three days into her van. She had no idea the devastation that awaited her family. One of the worst natural disasters to occur in this country, Hurricane Katrina, was about to take all of her possessions, with the exception of the few items they had taken with them.

Erin had aspired for many years to be a storyteller but had not yet found a story she felt worthy of telling. The events following Katrina not only changed her life and the lives of her family but also gave her the platform she had been seeking.   
 

Through the darkness and despair of Katrina, she not only found her way back to her spiritual base but she also found life-affirming renewal and the love of her life and the lives of her boys in the person of Benjamin Akey. Ben would become her husband and father to her children. Together, they have embarked on a path to give back to people who find themselves caught in similar circumstances to those Erin and her family faced.   Eyeofthestormrelief.org was the product of this journey.

Today, she is happy, in love, deeply loved, and content with the knowledge she is helping others.  Erin's hope is to inspire at least one person who is going through trials and tribulations, and to encourage them to put their trust in God, and to believe that faith and love can indeed move mountains.  God truly does do amazing things when least expected.

Erin still works for World Ship Supply, Inc. as the branch manager for the Mobile, AL office where she gets to meet people from all over the world every day.  She and her husband Ben are very involved in Christ United Methodist Church.  Erin and her family spend their free time not only helping hurricane victims, but also going to Disney World as often as they can, riding motorcycles, and cooking. 

Erin would like to thank her editor, and aunt, Carolyn Lindsay for her many hours of hard work proofing each draft and correcting all of her typos, as well as removing her excess etc. etc. etc.'s!

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