Now in paperback, the astounding and poignant account of how a Katrina survivor and her husband lived through one of our nation’s worst disasters—and continue to put their lives back together today.

A driving force in Spike Lee’s acclaimed and hardhitting HBO documentary When the Levees Broke, Phyllis Montana-Leblanc became the outspoken voice of Katrina survivors everywhere. In her gut-wrenching memoir, Not Just the Levees Broke, she reveals the impending doom that she and her family experienced during one of the greatest disasters in contemporary American history. From the initial weather forecast to the public warnings from officials, and the increasingly devastating developments— the winds, rain, and rising waters—LeBlanc takes readers into the eye of the storm. With unrelenting vigor, Not Just the Levees Broke continually begs the question: What would you do in a life-and-death situation with your family and neighbors facing the ultimate test of character? Filled with the generosity of family, neighbors, and strangers; the depth of love that one can hold for another; and the power to help and heal others, Not Just the Levees Broke is a profound portrayal of the human spirit at its very best and what happens when it is pushed to the absolute limits.

Phyllis Montana-LeBlanc is a beloved star of Spike Lee’s documentary When the Levees Broke. A Hurricane Katrina survivor, she still makes her home in New Orleans, Louisiana.