NATCHEZ &045; Katrina was born Aug. 30, the day after her namesake lashed New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

As levees broke and New Orleans filled with water, Okola Webb was in the midst of labor. Touro Hospital had no power, forcing medical staff to deliver Katrina Jultune Webb using flashlights to see what they were doing. Okola endured the labor without the help of drugs.

&uot;The doctor escorted us out. She said it wasn’t safe to be where we were anymore,&uot; Webb said.

Some might question naming a child after the storm that left her and her family homeless and with almost no possessions, but it was an easy choice for her mother.

&uot;I was going to name her after her father &045; and that’s where her middle name is from &045; but when she was born during this storm, I couldn’t help but name her Katrina,&uot; Okola Webb said.

Katrina, a healthy and happy-looking baby, spent Monday morning with her family in line at the Natchez Convention Center to get disaster relief funds from the American Red Cross.

The family came to stay with a friend, Glenn Robb, who had recently bought a house in Natchez.

&uot;We talked to him and he said, ‘I don’t care what you do, you have to get out (of New Orleans),’&uot; Okola said.

All told, there are 35 people living with Robb right now, Okola said.

The money Okola received from the Red Cross Monday will help pay some expenses, she said. The family has received considerable support from Jefferson Street United Methodist Church since arriving in Natchez, including food, bedding and personal products, Okola said.

Okola and Katrina reunited with the family last week in Natchez, just days after the baby was born.

Apparently, some of the storm rubbed off on little Katrina, who seems to be a bit tempestuous, her aunt Regchell Webb said.

&uot;She likes to stretch out and kick like that,&uot; Regchell said. &uot;Katrina started off as just a Category 1 before growing. That’s why we call (the baby) K-5, it’s like she turns into a Category 5, too.&uot;