During Hurricane Katrina, Zeitoun spent five heroic days and nights in his canoe distributing supplies to besieged residents and rescuing those he could.

VOA: standard.2010.05.20

This year's recipients also included, Abdul Rahman Zeitoun, a New Orleans resident who became the subject of a book by American author Dave Eggers.

VOA: standard.2010.05.20

Kathy took the first one, from a client across town, while Zeitoun shuffled into the shower.

CNN: Excerpt: The calm before Katrina

Witnesses told the U.N. they had been calling for ambulances to collect dead and wounded people in the Zeitoun buildings, she said.

CNN: Israel kills 30 civilians at shelter, witnesses tell U.N.

Though this kind of possibility presented itself every August and didn't raise eyebrows for most, Kathy and Zeitoun's more cautious clients and friends often made preparations.

CNN: Excerpt: The calm before Katrina