NEW ORLEANS —

Kendal Francis, a longtime assignment editor at WDSU, remembers the challenges and dangers faced by the WDSU news team during Hurricane Katrina. Advertisement

Francis remembers sleeping at the station and using a makeshift shower setup for weeks.

Francis, who played football at Tulane, was responsible for sending reporters and photographers into a dangerous environment.

"I started this thing when people went out and say, 'Grab my hand and look me in my eyes, squeeze my hands, you good,' and if you said, 'Yeah,' well, OK. Let's go get it," Francis said.

He witnessed the toll the work took on many who put aside pain, personal tragedy and health concerns to rise up and do great work.

"Navigating through that emotionally and psychologically, professionally — heck yeah, it'

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