I am not a native of Louisiana. Like so many others, I moved here with my parents in 1979. Hurricanes were a mystery to me until 1992. My first experience with a hurricane was Hurricane Andrew in 1992. I learned a lot going through that hurricane, but not half as much as I learned from Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina – an event no one in the Gulf South will ever forget. \r\nI first heard about the possibility of Hurricane Katrina hitting Louisiana from my employer. He told me to make reservations and get out of town (this was on Friday, August 26th). Before then, I thought Hurricane Katrina was going to hit the Florida panhandle. I did not take this storm seriously until Saturday morning. My in-laws made reservations in White Hall, Arkansas. Late Saturday, my in-laws, son, and daughter headed out of Louisiana and harms way. My husband and I did not decide to leave until 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning. When I left, I was convinced that my home would be destroyed either by a tornado or by floodwater. In addition, I convinced a friend of mine, Karen, to leave as well. She lives in Lacombe, Louisiana south of I-12 and thankfully, she agreed. \r\nAlthough the decision to leave was a hard one, I thought it would be best because a category 5 hurricane was nothing to take lightly. Moreover, the meteorologists were in somewhat of an agreement that New Orleans was in the cross hairs of this catastrophic hurricane, which made the decision to leave much easier. The funny thing is that if Nash Roberts had come on the air with his whiteboard and markers, I would have left with my in-laws. Why? Because everyone in New Orleans knows that if Nash Roberts comes on TV, the storm is very serious and thus everyone sits up and takes notice. \r\nMy husband and I left, packing what we could in the car along with my dog, Taboo, and took off for White Hall, Arkansas. The contra-flow north on I-55 north was smooth sailing, which I was very thankful especially after seeing the nightmare from last year’s disaster – gee do you think the state finally got something right? The drive to Arkansas was fine. In fact, it was a little strange driving on the opposite side of the highway and all the exits off I-55 were blocked. The state troopers were not letting anyone off I-55. We stopped at a rest area where I met other families who were also leaving Louisiana. Two of those families did not have rooms, so I suggested that they call the Days Inn in White Hall -- the same place we were staying to see if they had rooms left; fortunately, there were rooms available. \r\nWe arrived in White Hall, Arkansas in about six hours. White Hall, Arkansas is a very small town with a very big heart. As soon as we checked in the hotel clerk warmly welcomed us and immediately said that we could stay as long as we needed. My friend, Karen, left at 12:00 noon from Lacombe and she did not get to Arkansas until 3:00 a.m. Monday. She was delayed because so many people did not decide to leave until late Sunday morning. It is amazing how much a difference six hours meant. As soon as I checked in to the hotel, I called my family to let them know that I was safe. \r\nI was glued to the TV for several hours at a time over the next week. I kept switching the channel back and forth from the Weather Channel, Fox, MSNBC, and CNN. I did not get any of the stations from New Orleans. Therefore, I wanted to soak up as much information as I could. When I was watching one station, my in-laws and Karen was watching another. By the end of the day and into the night, we were all exchanging stories about New Orleans. To this day, I am not even sure which channel had the best coverage; I was just thankful that reporters were in the area. If not, who knows how many more people would have died. When I saw the pictures of the Superdome, Convention Center, the looting, and the violence – I was in shock, disbelief, horrified. I just could not believe what was happening. Was this real? It was if I was reliving all the same emotions I had during the events of 9/11. \r\n Soon those emotions turned to anger. I could not understand why the military was not there, where was all the police? Why did Governor Blanco wait so long to get the military in Louisiana? Why did the levees break? How can FEMA not know of the hundreds of people dying at the Convention Center when CNN and MSNBC were carrying the pictures live? Why weren’t the levees built or at least updated to withstand 175 M.P.H. winds? Where was the National Guard? \r\nWhen Mayor Nagin blasted the politicians on public radio, I was cheering. It was about time someone said what all of us trapped in hotels elsewhere in the country were feeling! Although I do not live in Orleans Parish, I was rooting for Mayor Nagin. I felt that this man was trying his best and he was trying to stop all the political hogwash and get New Orleans the help it needed. \r\nHow many times did I hear “Who’s to blame?” It was not a time for pointing fingers, what is done is done. It was a time to start saving lives and rebuilding New Orleans. \r\nThe evacuees in Arkansas received a tremendous amount of help from the local communities. During my stay at the Days Inn, several church organizations, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts came to the hotel letting all of its guests that if anyone needed anything, just ask. In fact, every day in my room the hotel left a little something for my daughter. Sometimes it was coloring book and crayons, another day it was snacks, and another was a puzzle. The hotel even had clothes for all sizes and gender it had received from the local churches. The churches also provided lunch, dinner, and activities for kids in the evening. The Scouts even brought treats and toys for the cats and dogs that were guests. I really felt blessed that I was in White Hall; everyone was so kind, charitable, understanding, and had big shoulders if I just needed to cry. \r\nTowards the end of the week, my friend Karen decided to meet her son in order to give him gas cans filled with gas to take home in order to start running the generator. We stopped at a Shell Gas Station in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. A gentleman came up to Karen and asked her if she was from Louisiana. She said yes. The guy insisted on paying for the gas. He and his wife had just come back from a trip and they wanted to do something for us. He would not take no for an answer. Karen and I were both very grateful. In addition, the guy who was working at the gas station on that day was also kind and helpful. He actually took the time to show us how to secure five five-gallon gas cans on top of her car so it would be safer to travel. Overall it took us about 30 minutes to have everything properly secured. We asked for addresses and names of both the gentlemen who took the time to help us. The gentlemen’s names are Billy Curtis and Arkansas State Representative Booker T. Clemons. Can you believe it? Just days before, I was blasting politicians for their lack of compassion and in the next moment a State Representative was helping us! I will never forget two gentlemen who took the time to help two strangers in a time of need. The giving and kindness did not stop there. Everyone I met in White Hall and Pine Bluff were gracious and wanted to help. \r\nOn Labor Day, I started home. Karen and I stopped at a local Wal-Mart. Shortly afterwards a woman came up to me and gave me a $20.00 bill. She told us to take the money and buy lunch, soft drinks, anything. I told her that we did not need the money that Karen and I were fine and we were headed home, but she was very insistent and in tears. She just wanted to do something, anything to help those from Louisiana. She told us how sorry she was that Louisiana was in such bad shape. I took the $20.00 and she drove off without giving her name. By the end, Karen and I were also in tears. The drive home was very somber and filled with thoughts of thankfulness and prayers – not only for the living but also for those who died waiting for help.\r\nWhat did I learn from Hurricane Katrina that I did not learn from the other hurricanes? Be thankful every day of what you have now in this moment. Be thankful for your friends, family, neighbors and tell them each day what he or she mean to you. Do not place value on possessions – its just stuff. Possessions can be replaced, lives cannot. Get out of harms way if possible. Look out after your neighbors as well. Make sure everyone you know has a way out, place to stay, money, gas, etc. \r\nAlmost two months have gone by since Hurricane Katrina and I still feel that I am very fortunate because my family is safe; I have a home and a job. However, on the other hand, I feel guilty because there are so many people who have no job, home, and family members are still missing. What makes me fortunate and others not so fortunate? I wish someone could give me an answer because I do not know --