In the chaos of Hurricane Katrina, one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history, an unexpected love story began to take shape. Amid
the flooded halls of a New Orleans hospital, two teenagers, Bryan and Allison Condon, found solace in each other’s company. What started as a shared struggle during a catastrophic storm in 2005 blossomed into a lifelong partnership. Now, 20 years later, the couple is married, raising two young sons, and reflecting on how a harrowing experience led to a beautiful life together. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Bryan and Allison share their journey from childhood friends to soulmates, proving that even in the darkest moments, hope and love can shine through.
Shelter in the Storm: A Familiar Haven Turns Chaotic
Growing up in New Orleans, Bryan and Allison were no strangers to Memorial Medical Center (now Ochsner Medical Center). Their mothers, both nurses, worked there, and whenever a major storm loomed, the families would seek safety at the hospital. “It was normal for us … because it’s always a safe place to go,” Bryan, now 27, tells PEOPLE. With generators, food, and space for pets, the hospital felt like a fortress. But in August 2005, when Hurricane Katrina struck, everything changed.
At 17, Bryan and Allison found themselves at the hospital as the levees broke and floodwaters surged. The
situation quickly deteriorated. A major power outage plunged the facility into darkness, and rising waters made it clear this was no ordinary storm. “Once the power and the generators went off, it was hot,” Bryan recalls. Open windows offered little relief, and the teens realized they were in a dire situation. “That’s when it went from another couple days of a hurricane to ‘This is an actual bad event that’s about to happen,’” he says.
Facing Fear Together: A Bond Forged in Crisis
As their mothers tended to patients, Bryan and Allison leaned on each other. They wandered the hospital’s hallways, played games, and watched movies in lounges to pass the time. But as conditions worsened, their carefree moments gave way to survival mode. “It got to a point where things kind of got dire, and we were old enough to realize we weren’t in a good situation,” Allison, also 27, shares. They pitched in where they could, even helping move animals to safety.
The hospital became a scene of chaos. “People were swimming up to the hospital and trying to get in because they had nowhere to go,” Allison says. With no cell phone service and restricted movement, the teens stuck together. Bryan took on a protective role, ensuring Allison and her younger brother felt safe. “I didn’t want them to see that I was worried about everything,” he admits, recalling how he checked in with his father for guidance on how to help.
Allison remembers Bryan’s steadfast presence. “He stuck by me pretty much the whole time and just made sure that me and my brother were safe,” she says. With Bryan’s nine-month-old sister also in their care, the group formed a tight-knit unit, looking out for one another in the face of uncertainty.
A Bittersweet Evacuation and a Slow Reconnection
After several grueling days, help arrived. Bryan and his family were airlifted out by helicopter, while Allison and her family were evacuated by boat the following day. Though separated, they knew each other was safe, thanks to their mothers’ communication. It wasn’t until weeks later, after the storm’s immediate aftermath, that they began reconnecting over the phone.
By then, life had shifted dramatically. Bryan, a high school senior, attended school in Sidell, Louisiana, while his family resettled in Mississippi. Allison took a semester off from college. Their conversations became a lifeline, a way to process the trauma they’d shared. “We would just talk, just see how each other was doing,” Allison says. By March 2006, they started hanging out in person again, with Bryan joining Allison and her friends for dinner. From there, their bond grew stronger, evolving from friendship to romance.
From First Date to Forever: Building a Life Together
After six years of dating, Bryan proposed to Allison in 2012 during a trip to New York City’s Central Park. The couple married later that year, marking the start of their new chapter. Today, they live in Kenner, Louisiana, where they’re raising their two sons, Jackson, 10, and Reid, 6. Both boys are sports enthusiasts, and the family enjoys cheering on the New Orleans Pelicans as season ticket holders.
Bryan, now a physical therapist, and Allison, an interior designer, have built a fulfilling life. Their mothers continue to work as nurses at the same hospital where their story began. Reflecting on their journey, Bryan sees Katrina as a pivotal moment. “Without that, we’re probably not where we are today,” he says. “It did bring me to marrying Allie years later and having two kids and having the life we have now.”
A Legacy of Resilience and Gratitude
Looking back, Bryan and Allison acknowledge the profound impact of their Katrina experience. “It made you grow up a lot faster than you wanted to,” Bryan says. The storm forced them to confront adult responsibilities head-on, from fending for themselves to supporting each other in a crisis. Yet, Allison echoes his sentiment of gratitude. “We all have a good one and a bad one,” she says of their shared experience. “I would never trade any of that because I wouldn’t have my kids, I wouldn’t have him.”
Their story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the unexpected ways life can unfold. For Bryan and Allison, Hurricane Katrina was more than a tragedy—it was the catalyst for a love that has endured for two decades and counting. As they raise their family and navigate life’s challenges, they carry forward the lessons learned in those dark days: the importance of sticking together, finding strength in adversity, and cherishing the bonds that matter most.
