Starving, dehydrated and scared, a then-pregnant Lakeita Williams recalls being in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the neighborhood with her partner, Travis Randolph, and their 9-month-old baby. Then, a man appeared in a canoe and carried them to safety. Williams never learned his name or saw him again, but his act of kindness has stayed with her in the decades since. Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, resulting in at least 1,800 deaths and $108 billion in damages. But in some of the most intense and dramatic moments following the hurricane, it was altruism that rescued people who were stranded, hurt and, in some cases, facing death. “It was kind of remarkable that we were all going through so much, but people stopped to help each other,” Williams said. “That part of Katrina is often left out. Whether they were big acts or just being encouraging, praying, hugging … it helped us get through.” Read more at the link in bio. 📷️ brandon.content for nbcnews