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Teen Katrina Refugee Loses Home Again In Tornado

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Darius Joseph, 15, moved with his mom from New Orleans to Moore, Okla. after his home was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.

Last year, Joseph ran away from home and moved in with the family of his best friend Brandon Dick.

This week, Joseph found himself displaced again — the Dick family home was destroyed in the tornado on Monday.

A photo of the destruction in Moore, Okla. (Dick family)
The Dick family home in Moore, Okla., was destroyed in the May 20 tornado. (Courtesy of the Dick family)

Brandon Dick, 16, and his mother Sarah Dick say they've learned from Joseph how to pick up, rebuild and move on.

"Darius is the reason our family is so upbeat," Sarah Dick told Here & Now's Meghna Chakrabarti. "We're gonna rebuild. We have a plan of action. We're not down and lost like a lot of other folks here."

Joseph has helped his friend deal with the loss too.

"He's already lost everything," said Brandon Dick, 16. "He taught me how to move on."

For his part, Joseph says he tries to stay positive and make other people laugh, even though they have lost so much in the tornado.

"You'd rather be smiling than crying," Joseph said. "You're keeping up that good attitude even after all that's happened."

Darius Joseph and his adopted family are living in a hotel while they figure out when they can rebuild their destroyed home.

Guests:

  • Sarah Dick, matriarch of the Dick family in Moore, Okla.
  • Brandon Dick, son of Sarah Dick.
  • Darius Joseph, has been living with the Dick family.

This segment aired on May 24, 2013.

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