Frances P Robinson - Disaster Story: Things I Learned from Hurricane Katrina

DISASTER STORY

Things I Learned From

Hurricane Katrina

Includes Photos

By: Frances P Robinson

This publication is intended to provide helpful and informative material. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this book. Always consult a qualified professional on any matters before adopting any suggestions in this book or drawing inferences from it.

The author and publisher specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from the use or application of any contents of this book. The author and publisher are not responsible for claims made by manufacturers.

Copyright 2013 Frances P Robinson.

All rights reserved.

Manufactured in the United States of America

About the Author

I was born and raised in New Orleans. Living in a hurricane prone area has a way of desensitizing its residents after a prolonged period of inactivity. My personality however is to be ever vigilant so when Hurricane Katrina threatened I was ready to leave. I am so glad we did.

Although I was safely evacuated I was not exempt from the anxiety of watching the devastation of my hometown. Everyone watching and especially anyone living there knew that our beloved city and perhaps lives would be changed forever.

I have previous experience as a magazine and newspaper writer and this book has stirred inside of me for a while. I felt compelled to write about these very personal accounts and the result is this book. In Disaster Story you will read things that I learned after Hurricane Katrina. Thank you for reading.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About the Author 2

Introduction. 5

Lessons I Learned From Hurricanes Betsy and Katrina. 6

Because it Never Happened Before. 10

Don't Live by Water? Doesn't Mean You Won't Flood.. 11

Take the Ax to the Attic. 13

Communications down Everywhere. 15

Pollution is Every Where. 17

Complete Systems Are Disrupted or Destroyed.. 19

Everyone is Traumatized.. 21

Local Officials Are Victims Too. 24

All Emergency Responders are Not Heroes. 26

Dead Bodies Can Wait 28

Can Family Pets Kill People?. 30

What Happened to Pets Left Behind.. 31

Missing Family. 33

Stranded: What Happened To Hospital Patients?. 35

Everything Looks Different 38

New Normal: Things May Never Be the Same. 40

Exposed: Pray for Good Weather 42

Gasoline is the New Gold.. 44

Injuries Spike. 46

Danger Ahead: Road Signs and Traffic Lights. 47

School is Out: Until Further Notice. 49

No Mail Today or Tomorrow... 51

How Local News Was Affected.. 53

Prohibited: You Are NOT Welcome Home! 55

Housing Demands: Where Will Everyone Live?. 57

Housing Values Tank and Spike. 59

Want Quick Housing? Secure Your Own. 61

In Conclusion. 62

Other Books by Author: 63

Introduction

As a Hurricane Betsy and Katrina survivor, I have many perspectives on disasters and their aftermath. I knew there would be a time when I would write about it. While watching victims of Hurricane Sandy suffer (in 2012), yet another major disaster, I felt the time to write about it is now.

I can relate to what these victims are experiencing and what they will continue to for quite some time. I hope these observations from my experience will help someone who needs it now or in the future better understand the complexities of disaster survival, rescue and recovery.

Disasters can take many forms (not only hurricanes). Some of the information I share may be relevant to other types of disasters as well. Recovery time will vary depending on many factors such as type of disaster, location and others.

In this book I am reconstructing events as I remember it however there could be inaccuracies in facts or statistics although none is intended. Photos throughout were taken 5 weeks after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 in and around my brothers home in Chalmette Louisiana a suburb of New Orleans.

Lessons I Learned From Hurricanes Betsy and Katrina

I was 14 when Hurricane Betsy struck the New Orleans area . I remember it vividly. It was around 8 pm that night and we were at home without power. We tried to listen to a local radio station on a transistor radio but wasn't getting very good reception in the bad weather. Every time lightning flashed (and it was often) we heard a lot of static. We did manage to hear the announcer say in a crackling voice that winds were now over 105 miles per hour.

My father panicked and decided we needed to leave just when the storm was hitting with its full force. Two of our neighbors and the 4 of us huddled into a mid-size car. Although our intended destination was a safe shelter only several miles away, we had to endure a most terrifying ride to get there.

As crazy as it was for us to be on the road at all I was surprised to see so many other vehicles as well. Our car was being blasted by a constant downburst of rain and violent winds. Despite having 6 people packed into our small car it rocked back and forth like an amusement ride but this ride was no fun. Debris and downed power lines lay blocking the roads in many places. Several times we had to ride up over curbs and onto walkways to avoid obstacles in the street. Stopping in the middle of a hurricane was not an option. We had to keep moving. Thank God we could.

When we finally arrived near the shelter vehicles parked everywhere, including in the middle of the road. My father let us out of the car as close to the building as he could and left to find a parking spot.

As we struggled to walk in the hurricane force winds we could barely see where we were going. Rain and wind pelted us on every side. Large objects were crashing down on the ground all around us. I realized it was huge slate tiles flying off the roof of the Municipal Auditorium Building. The tiles were very thick, sharp and heavy. If one had fallen on us we would have been seriously injured or killed and perhaps decapitated. Fortunately none did. Finally we reached the doors of the shelter and safety.

Before Hurricane Betsy my family never left home for storms. We had always felt safe and had no reason to believe we wouldn't be. We lived in an area of New Orleans called Gentilly that was closer to Lake Ponchartrain than the Mississippi river. We learned that our neighborhood was located on a raised ridge that was higher than areas around us. It must have been true because despite our panic our home was high and dry after Betsy unlike other sections of the city.

When the hurricane had passed and we were allowed to return home we realized that we did not have to leave. Our home survived with only very minor damage and no flooding. After surviving Betsy we felt confident in our safety if we stayed at home for future storms. Many others felt the same way. This false confidence is likely what contributed the deaths of many elderly in Katrina 40 years later, who made the poor decision to stay home. Certainly they would have remembered Hurricane Betsy.

I wanted to tell my story about Hurricane Betsy to make a point and that a major disaster could happen to anyone at anytime in anyplace. Catastrophes are going to happen but advanced preparation is important although may not be possible for a sudden event. The degree of impact people will suffer depends on factors such as: type of disaster, location, population, geography and others.

Regardless of the disaster type future victims face they may experience many similar problems. Like disasters before them the challenge of rescue and recovery can be overwhelming. Even with the best planning, disasters can significantly affect many established systems of even modern societies. Real life lessons learned from previous events can help improve the survival and recovery rate for the next victims.