The first time Bette Kauffman ever went to New Orleans was during an undergrad trip for a PRSSA conference.

She spent several evenings sitting on the floor of Preservation Hall soaking up the music.

“There is something about that place,” Kauffman said.

That’s why she wanted to honor New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit the city 10 years ago.

Her interactive “Waterline” exhibit shows the devastation of the storm and allows viewers to write comments. She has now self-published a book about the series.

The project meant a lot to her because 10 years ago Kauffman took in a boy who evacuated New Orleans.

That boy was Will Phelps, ULM alumnus, and Kauffman now considers him her son. She dedicated the Waterline book to him.

“The Waterline series is such an inspirational reminder of how life can change in an instant,” Phelps said. “I love the entire exhibit.”

Phelps evacuated New Orleans with his biological mother, who he still has a relationship with, after his home was destroyed. After his mother went back, Phelps stayed behind with Kauffman to finish school.

“She definitely became a mom to me and the rest is history,” said Phelps. “The past 10 years have been amazing and filled with so many memories.”

“Waterline” has been displayed in cities across Louisiana, in Florida and Pennsylvania.

ULM was Waterline’s last stop–its 15th installation. It was the first time all 200 feet of photographs had been up in one place at one time.

And some of the panels show age – slightly discolored with haunting comments made by people over the past 10 years.

One comment points to a photograph of a door where the waterline reached the very top of its frame.

“That’s my address,” it read.

Kauffman hoped it would help people whose lives were devastated by Hurricane Katrina cope with their grief and loss.

In a way, it gave them an opportunity to see the damage without the heartbreak or trouble of going back to New Orleans.

One of the first comments written on the exhibit was when it displayed in a chapel. The woman looked at every single photo and read every single comment.

Then before she left, she carefully  wrote, “Thank you for this very touching exhibit. Thank you for an opportunity to grieve. Thank you for honoring what was lost.”

Kauffman never met the woman who wrote it, but she said that really speaks to why she thought this project was worth doing.

She said it was challenging to get “Waterline” off the ground. It took her six trips to New Orleans to gather the photos for the project.

Most of the money invested into this project was Kauffman’s own.

But she said she doesn’t regret anything.

“I’m proud of [the book] whether anyone else ever buys it or not,” Kauffman said.

Kauffman said giving people a chance to express themselves was rewarding enough.