Ex-Bronco's bed and breakfast becomes refuge for Katrina victims

After former Denver Broncos cornerback Randy Hilliard’s playing career ended, he opened a bed and breakfast in New Orleans, his hometown.

His unusual post-NFL career turned out to be a blessing two years ago when friends and family needed a place to stay. Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans in August 2005, ruining many homes and businesses.

Hilliard’s Airyn Monet Bed and Breakfast, which he has run since 1999, was on a hill and escaped the wrath of the storm. He had about $100,000 in damages to the five-room guest house, including the ruined air conditioning units in the back and about $40,000 of repair to the roof. The house, which was built in the 1890s, probably would have been ruined had it not been on a hill.

Hilliard, who played four seasons for the Broncos and was a reserve cornerback on the 1997 championship team, had about 20 friends and family who lost their homes. He shut down the bed and breakfast for about a year.

“They could stay here ... until they could get their houses together,” Hilliard said.

Hilliard recalled the days before Katrina hit, thinking it would be like other hurricanes he stayed through. He was going to stay, but the warnings were more urgent than any he could remember.

He left the day before the storm hit. From a bridge, he took a look back at his home city.

“It was pitch black over the city,” he said. “That was scary.”

Ricky Porter, an offensive assistant for the 1997 Broncos, also had to deal with Katrina.

He was the director of player development and community relations for the New Orleans Saints, and was put in charge of getting the players and their families out of the city.

“It was crazy,” said Porter, who had a family of his own that had to leave. “Everyone’s eyes were big. We didn’t know if New Orleans would cease to exist.”

And two years later, Porter still has bitter feelings about how the Saints were treated by the NFL. The Saints relocated to San Antonio, set up in makeshift facilities and didn’t return to New Orleans until 2006.

“The analogy is if you have five kids and one was off somewhere lost, as a father would you say ‘At least we have four?’” said Porter, who is no longer with the Saints. “The NFL turned its back on us.”

Hilliard came back to New Orleans a few days after the storm. He housed those family and friends who stayed although others who lost their homes relocated. Hilliard was born in New Orleans and had a desire to stay.

“I liked staying other places, but New Orleans was my home,” he said. “It’s going to be good for you in the long run, and it’s going to be good for the city.”