Hurricane Katrina – Lessons Learned

Stores were closed, no available gasoline until recently and all of us were very concerned about others who had lost everything in this hurricane. Mississippi and Louisiana were my childhood home and I knew the territory very well that was affected. I have spent many days living in and traveling all over that country for over 50 years. It was indeed a disaster that has never been seen or experienced before. If you've watched the news you'll come to realize that an entire city, New Orleans is uninhabited and more than likely won't be active again for a long, long time. Other cities along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi were entirely wiped out. Over 1.5 million people were displaced from a storm that spanned the size of Great Britain in the southern Mississippi River country.

Though some folks were spared many lives were lost and emergency crews are working around the clock from all over the nation to help that ravaged section of America. It has made all of us realize how mortal we are and completely powerless over the forces of nature never before seen.

It certainly made me think while I was in the hurricane and survived the aftermath. Watching the storm from my front porch was an experience I'll never forget. The power of the wind driven rain and tornado like activity was awesome. Trees were falling all around us, huge limbs were crashing to the ground breaking power lines and penetrating our homes. We couldn't watch the TV news as there was no power, but could only imagined what damage was being created elsewhere. When the storm finally stopped and the winds ceased it was then that we all realized what trouble lay before all of us. One neighborhood grocery store was open where we lived. We could get ice and a few food supplies, but it was quickly depleted until supply trucks could arrive to replenish the stock. Gas lines at the fueling stations were long and guarded by area police. Prices quickly rose as supplies diminished. It soon became very uncomfortable as it was still August and the heat indexes were in the 90's with 90%+ humidity...and no electricity, no air conditioning, no TV news...just neighbors wandering the streets to see the aftermath of the storm. It was indeed very sobering.

We quickly assessed our situation, tended to business and made the best of a very difficult situation. Flashlights and batteries were a necessity, so was lamp oil for our old hurricane lamps, and the freezers where there were foodstuffs soon began to thaw. Cash was all that was being taken at the few stores that had any available supplies as credit cards were of no value as the telephone lines and electricity were no longer functioning.

Everyone was in a good attitude, but uncomfortable due to the heat and you could see the stress levels beginning to rise. We could only imagine what it must have been like to the south of us in Gulf Port and New Orleans. Life in the path of Katrina changed within a day and will never be the same for over a million and a half plus people! Suddenly many things became increasingly painful to deal with for many. One could see that from the various news stories that began to emerge from the storm. Stress levels and tempers did begin to show.

My brother and I stayed for a few days, took care of our family there and then headed back to Wyoming where we both live. We had enough fuel to breach the storm-ravaged area and make it back to parts of civilization that were still working. We quickly saw the price of gasoline rise sharply as we headed home and thanked the folks we came in contact with for being there providing services that we sometimes take for granted everyday. We knew that many people that we left behind, including family, were in for a very difficult period.

Some lessons I learned as disasters can strike anywhere: 1.) Have an emergency plan, 2.) Have an emergency storage box full of basic necessities, flashlights, extra batteries, large candles, basic non-perishable food items to last a few days, can opener, 3.) Have an emergency cash fund; because when disaster hit they won't take points and credit cards, 4.) Keep your automobile in working order and your fuel tanks full, especially when you know a storm is brewing and above the half way mark all of the time., 5.) Have a few tools handy, saws, rakes, hammers, etc., to rebuild even the basic structures or perform minor repairs, have some work gloves for everyone. 6.) Maintain emergency phone numbers or a plan to contact family or a third party person in the event of a future disaster. Some cell phones worked, but others did not and the basic phone land lines were useless as they were down. 7.) Maintain a supply of Water, pure water that's safe to drink. It's amazing how quickly you go through water. You'll need enough safe drinking water for at least 3 days to a week. Have on hand a water purification devise to filter water if need be along with iodine tablets and other water purification methods. 8.) Alternative fuel sources for cooking. If your home is all-electric you're in trouble as to how you'll cook your food. 9.) Be willing to leave it all quickly. That was the biggest mistake that I saw many make in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Contrary to many news reports there were emergency evacuation plans underway long before the storm and many heeded the advice, but many did not, even when busses were available to take thousands to safety before the storm. 10.) Don't be afraid of walking to safety either. Even a moderate pace of walking 5 to 10 miles a day can get one to safety within a day or two even pushing a wheel chair for someone. Don't wait for others to provide assistance, be willing to render the assistance yourself to others. Be willing to be proactive. Time is always of the essence in situations like this. In fact we heard from an individual in our office today, Rawlins, WY who had walked out of Gulf Port, MS. He was able to walk to safety, hitch-hike across the country and is starting work in our community just 8 days after the hurricane…it can be done! He only walked about 5 miles all total while hitching rides along the way. 11.) Maintain a portable radio devise so you can hear local news and weather. We listened on our car radio for various reports where we were. My niece had a small portable "C" battery powered TV we listened to as well. We chuckled a bit when we realized that about 2 million other folks didn't have such a luxury and the news anchors weren't talking to many listeners. 12.) A First Aid kit along with a minimum of 2 weeks supply of your current Medications on hand and an emergency supply placed in your emergency storage box along with other valuable papers and information concerning your medical conditions. There are more pointers, but you can come up with various needs of your own to add to your emergency kit. What ever you do, begin now to plan for the unimaginable and disasters of the future. You can survive with a little forethought and materials you've set aside for emergencies…don't delay start today.

(I can imagine a time yet future when the call will come to again flee danger and many will just not heed it. We all saw thousands trapped in New Orleans because they wouldn't listen to the advice to get out when they could have. Now the city is a death trap luring the unexpecting, unwilling and ignorant ones)

There will be other lessons that come to mind, but these are certainly the most poignant lessons of late, just having come out of the great hurricane Katrina.

This storm was a wake up call for all of us. It's time to prepare ourselves and begin today.