Rising from the Storm: How Hurricane Katrina Sparked Lt. Macy Gantner’s Calling to Serve

When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, Macy Gantner was just 12, living in a low-income apartment complex in St. Bernard Parish, near New Orleans. The storm, which initially seemed like many others they’d weathered, turned catastrophic overnight. Gantner woke to rising floodwaters rapidly filling their apartment. Panic surged through her as her family was forced upstairs to a neighbor’s home, crammed with dozens of cats and devoid of furniture. Fear mounted as the floodwaters continued to rise, prompting neighbors to desperately hack through walls to reunite the family, who had become briefly separated amid the chaos.

Gantner, her mother, and sister were eventually rescued by a small boat, heartbreakingly leaving her brother behind temporarily due to limited space. Her memory of that night remains vivid — the overwhelming smells, the crying and chaos at the flooded hospital, and the anxiety of an uncertain future. After an agonizing night atop a flooded hospital roof and a harrowing stay at a juvenile detention center turned emergency shelter, the family eventually evacuated to Baton Rouge before boarding a bus to Minnesota, unknowingly setting the stage for a new chapter Gantner could not yet imagine.

In Minnesota, her family experienced their first encounter with The Salvation Army — an interaction that profoundly reshaped her future. At a Salvation Army distribution center, they were warmly welcomed; provided with clothes, coats, and essentials; and embraced by strangers who offered genuine care and compassion. Gantner recalls the overwhelming comfort and kindness she felt when a Salvation Army officer prayed for her family, planting seeds of faith, resilience, and community in her young heart.

Life post-Katrina remained challenging, still marked by poverty and uncertainty. Yet the unwavering support and sincere love Gantner received from her local Salvation Army community gave her strength and optimism. The Salvation Army became her haven, nurturing her faith and providing a supportive environment where she could envision a brighter future. Over time, she became deeply involved in The Salvation Army’s youth programs, developing leadership skills and a profound desire to serve others. The storm had not only disrupted her life but also laid the groundwork for a transformative journey filled with purpose.

Despite ongoing challenges, Gantner pursued higher education, earning a teaching degree while deepening her bonds with her community and faith. Yet she sensed that God had greater plans for her beyond teaching alone. Eventually, she felt an unmistakable calling to become an officer for The Salvation Army. This role allowed her to fully dedicate her life to serving others, echoing the compassion and support she had once received.

Today, Lieutenant Macy Gantner and her husband lead a Salvation Army corps in Muscatine, Iowa, overseeing programs that support everyone from children in day care to adults facing significant life crises. Lieutenant Gantner is passionate about creating a compassionate and nurturing community, reflective of the kindness shown to her when she needed it most. Although the trauma of Katrina remains deeply etched in her memory — vividly recalled through scenes of rising waters, loss, and displacement — it also symbolizes her profound personal transformation. She credits her resilience to her faith, recognizing how her life, although nearly destroyed by Katrina, was ultimately rebuilt on the foundations of hope and compassion.

When Lieutenant Gantner finally returned to St. Bernard Parish years later with her husband, the emptiness of the land where her community once stood brought tears to her eyes. Her neighborhood, once filled with apartments, families, and local shops, had vanished — replaced by overgrown brush and vacant land. The pain was palpable, but she also realized that this stark emptiness symbolized closure and affirmed that Katrina, despite its devastation, had given her an opportunity for rebirth.

Reflecting on her journey, Lieutenant Gantner sees clearly how adversity became the catalyst for her calling. Without Katrina, she might have remained trapped in a cycle of generational poverty, never imagining the profound possibilities life could offer. Now, she dedicates her life to ensuring others who are facing storms of any kind — physical, emotional, or spiritual — experience the same transformative compassion and unwavering support she once received. Her story powerfully underscores the message that even amid life’s darkest storms, there remains profound hope and potential for a brighter, renewed future.