Our Katrina Experience

They had experienced 14 hours of  high winds (estimated at 150mph).  The temperature and humidity were both near 100 degrees, power was out and they were hunkered down in a center hallway along with 4 or 5 pets. The air was filled with debris, and the walls of the house pulsed in and out. They were convinced the house would not stand.  Fortunately  it did and no one was injured,  but all were badly shaken and are still experiencing emotional after-effects. The house sustained damage, but was habitable.

Suzy and I arrived a week after the storm. It was reassuring to see them all alive, well and holding onto each other.  We brought supplies (food, water, and plastic tarps), much of which was donated by Maine friends and strangers who heard we were headed for Mississippi. We had also brought frantic requests from several Maine people who had not heard from relatives in Ed’s town. He was able to locate those people so we could report back on their welfare. All were safe.

After helping the family with immediate plans and temporary repairs, we and the grandchildren volunteered at a nearby Red Cross Shelter. We were very impressed with the work being done by Red Cross disaster workers and a team of Americorp youth. Shelter residents were universally grateful for any assistance and many of them ignored their personal tragedies to organize help for others.

On our drive down we saw others like us also carrying water, tarps and food. We saw lines of construction vehicles and car loads of disaster workers. There were fuel trucks, utility workers, military vehicles, shower trucks, portable kitchens, trucks loaded with clothing, building supplies, groceries, cable, tanks, generators, etc. etc. Within days, regular people all over the country went to work ordering, planning, scheduling, doing what they do to get the recovery started. Almost immediately hardware stores, groceries, drug stores, medical clinics, auto repair shops. were re-opened. Hundreds of people left their damaged homes or even shelters to go to work at road repair and essential businesses. A very tired grocery clerk,  working without electricity for her cash register, said simply, “we’ll get through this.” The convoys of assistance, both private and government, were still heading south as we drove home. But best of all, we traveled north in the company of dozens of power company trucks headed back to their home states. The major power repairs were made weeks ahead of estimate.  No matter what you see on television of self-serving bureaucrats and politicians, the recovery is happening because millions, both in the affected areas and all over the country, are going to work everyday and doing the common, ordinary, everyday jobs that keep our communities going.