Surviving Hurricane Katrina\r\nRod E. Emmer, Baton Rouge, LA\r\nSeptember 4, 2005\r\n\r\nIn order to discuss Hurricane Katrina I must provide a brief introduction to one New Orleans family’s preparation for hurricanes. Relatives, friends, and associates through the early 1960s practiced a similar process. With this as background you will better understand why I describe selected actions by my family to survive Hurricane Katrina. \r\n\r\nFAMILY LEARNED PREPARATION \r\n\r\nI grew-up in New Orleans and remember my first hurricane in September 1947. Many have occurred but Audry (1957), Hilda (1964), Betsy (1965), and Andrew (1992) stand out. Everyone I knew was familiar with and accepted the hurricane threat of wind and water to New Orleans, south Louisiana, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In today’s parlance, “Hurricanes Happen”. \r\n\r\nWeather reports from Florida, Cuba, and the Caribbean islands alerted the rim of the Gulf of Mexico of a pending storm. We had only three or four days warning of immanent impact based on information from ships and later planes. But this short notice always seemed sufficient for preparation. In anticipation of a storm my family implemented its own “emergency response plan”. These “traditions” were passed to my brother and me. Building on what my brother and I do, the next generation has developed their “emergency response plan”. \r\n\r\nIn general sequence, my mom and dad: \r\n\r\nselected food (potted meats, crackers, jelly, canned goods, bread, soft drinks, cookies, etc.) that did not need cooking or preservation in an icebox; \r\nstored provisions for about a week or until the bakeries and groceries opened, power was restored, the water was safe, etc.; \r\ncollected additional manual can openers (The electric can opener arrived on the kitchen counter much later.);\r\nreplenished the medicine cabinet with band aids, iodine or methiolate (sp?), aspirin, prescriptions, toiletries, etc.; \r\nchecked our one or two flashlights (an expensive semi-novelty in the late 1940s to early 1960s) and purchased extra batteries and bulbs; \r\nplaced candles, the primary source of emergency light, and matches around the house; \r\nset the sterno stove and fuel in the kitchen; \r\nassembled the basic tools and hardware (nails, rope, bow or buck saw, hammer, etc.) for clear-up and repairs; and \r\nwashed and dried clothes, towels, and dishes while we had electricity. \r\n\r\nWe fully expected to lose power for up to a week, perhaps more. If electricity was restored earlier, then we were lucky. It was not until the late 1950s that we had a battery operated portable radio.\r\n\r\nOn the day before the hurricane, as the dark gray storm clouds rolled over the City and winds increased, my dad closed the shutters (all houses had green shutters with movable slats) to protect the windowpanes from flying objects and the force of the wind and gusts. He used clothesline to tie the shutters closed. With help, he retrieved the pre-cut and numbered plywood sheets from storage. They were soon nailed over the correspondingly numbered doors and windows that had no shutters. Bath towels were stuffed in the spaces under the doors to keep out wind-driven rain. My mom had the mop, bucket, and extra towels ready to capture seepage. Someone always cleared the porch and yard of chairs and anything that could be tossed by the wind. He parked the car near the house or in the garage to protect it from airborne debris. Mom filled the bathtub to have water for washing hands, dishes, and clothes. She filled glass bottles or pots with tap water for drinking or purchased extra gallon jugs of “Ozone” water. Finally, if time permitted, my dad purchased ice and placed some in the freezer compartment and bags/blocks in the portable, aluminum (not plastic or foam) ice chest.\r\n\r\n\r\nWHAT WAS IMPORTANT\r\n\r\nFirst and foremost was the health and safety of family and friends. Second was the integrity of the house. Third, family heirlooms and keepsakes were treasured and were protected and saved.\r\n\r\n\r\nHURRICANE KATRINA, August 2005\r\n\r\nIn anticipation of the Hurricane Katrina I stored essential supplies. Having read the publications on recommended survival staples I adjusted my purchases to satisfy personal preferences. Forming the base of my hurricane food pyramid and from most important to least essential are: chips, cookies, candies, twinkies, peanuts/cashews, crackers, and bread. The second step on the hurricane food pyramid includes: potted meats, sardines, grits, oatmeal, spam, and canned beans. At the top of my hurricane food pyramid is whatever else is in the pantry. I venture most people in hurricane prone areas use a similar hurricane flood pyramid. \r\n\r\nBeverage priorities from most to least important are beer, soft drinks, wine, gadorade, and bottles of refreshing Baton Rouge tap water (Why should I pay dollars/gallon when the BR deep-well water tastes better and costs pennies?) I purchased all sizes of batteries (the 5 inch B&W TV takes 8 D-cell batteries while a small penlight uses two AA batteries), checked the numerous inexpensive flashlights and sterno plus fuel cans. A propane and a rechargeable Coleman lanterns have replaced the candles. Propane will also fuel a small Coleman burner. On the day before the hurricane I wash clothes and dishes and secured or remove outside objects that could become airborne. The minivan was parked as close to the house as possible. I have no shutter to secure, but the windows are double paned with fake mutton bars for insulation. Doors were locked and bolted. I have no plywood panels to nail over the openings. \r\n\r\nTHE FAMILY IS FINE \r\n\r\nMy brother, sister-in-law, and an elderly cousin (with cat) drove to Baton Rouge on Saturday, the day before Katrina made landfall in coastal Louisiana. No one anticipated staying more than a couple of days, essentially an extended visit. Consequently they brought few extra clothes and other basic necessities such as prescriptions, toiletries, bottled water for the trip, or heirlooms and valuables. With stores now open and washing machine and dryer working, who needs more than a couple of changes? \r\n\r\nTwo nephews, one with wife plus their two-year old son, and two Chihuahuas safely arrived on Wednesday. They stayed in their new house in Diamondhead, MS at the head of the Bay of St. Louis. The lots are heavily wooded with pines and high with an elevation about 45 ft MSL. \r\n\r\nA long-ago college friend and wife will be staying Sunday night on the last empty floor in the house. They evacuated their Kenner to Houston and have lived in a pet-friendly hotel (3 dogs plus cat). On Labor Day they will try to return to their home, ready to protect it from the elements with plywood and begin needed cleanup. No power, no water, and no sewage yet, but its home. \r\n\r\nMy front yard looks like a car lot, a suburban, a GMC Envoy, a Chrysler Town and Country, a Toyota crew cab, rented panel truck, and a Toyota Camry. None suffered damage and all have full tanks of gas. In 2005 the Louisiana Legislature passed a “No Gauge” law that takes effect during a declared emergency. Gas prices remain the same as pre-hurricane Saturday, about $2.44 to $2.64/gal of self serve Regular. Food, water, ice, generators, and other commodities have maintained pre-hurricane prices. People believe rumors about gas shortages and “top off” when they only need 4-5 gallons and then fill plastic gas cans for generators and to keep in the car/truck. As a consequence lines form at gas stations. \r\n\r\nMy house was undamaged although two 6-8 inch branches from a Cow oak and numerous smaller branches from water oaks and an elm fell in the front, back, or side yards. My injuries, if any, will result from using a bow saw on the larger limbs and dragging all the debris to the piles along the street. Muscles seldom used in recent years were relocated and screamed for attention and to remind me I am not 25 anymore. The City/Parish or contractor trucks will pick up the uncountable piles branches and trees lining the primary and secondary City streets and avenues. An initial collection will remove most of the organic material during September. In subsequent months the remainder of the branches, leaves, and wood will be mulched and probably given away for free. \r\n\r\nThe electric power at my house went out on Monday morning about 6:30 AM. My subdivision was originally platted in the 1930s on the very distant outskirts, the country, of a then much smaller Baton Rouge. The trees are now well into their 70s plus and consequently prone to fall and lose limbs during winds and drought. Several trees blew down either crashing through houses, falling in yards, or across streets and power lines. No power means no stove, no lights, TV, radio, washing machines, or AC. Louisiana in August can be warm and haven’t we all become accustomed to nights with the AC humming in the background? \r\n\r\nFunny how you build on what you learned as a kid experiencing hurricanes in Louisiana? We were informed of the hurricane when it crossed Florida and followed it in TV to impact. Better than it was when I was young. I packed the freezer compartment with bag ice and plastic bottles of frozen water in anticipation of the loss of power. Fortunately, I have natural gas for the water heater so we could all enjoy hot showers in the glow of flashlights. We avoided the once common practice of candle light for battery-operated flashlights. \r\n\r\nThe hard working crews from Entergy restored power on Tuesday at about 6:30 pm. Only 36 hours without power is certainly acceptable. More rural areas will be out for up to a month. Coincidently, we went to a nearby restaurant for supper on Tuesday, I think more to enjoy the AC than the food. We sat as long as we could in the cool atmosphere before return to the house. And then there was ‘Power to the People”. \r\n\r\nWe kept informed on the hurricane and devastation on a tiny TV I purchase after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. A five inch, B&W battery TV is not comparable to a cable connected 36 in color set, but it is better than living in the dark (so to speak). Meals, prepared on a sterno stove, featured Bush’s baked beans, hot sausages, grits, eggs, spam, pork sausage - the basics. \r\n\r\nAs you may have experienced at your home when the power was lost, it was extremely dark outside. It reminded me of early days camping. I suggested to everyone after our gourmet meal of sterno warmed beans and bread that we go outside, hold hands and sing “Kumbaya”. No one accepted my invitation. I don’t understand why. \r\n\r\nHurricane response has certainly improved over the years. Electricity in the cities now is quickly returned. Refrigerators and freezers protect food for 24 to 48 hours without power. Fast food restaurants and convenience stores always find a way to have early morning coffee plus take out biscuits, eggs, sausage, hot cakes, and wraps. My stock piling of canned foods, crackers, and associated supplies have hardly been touched and I am not complaining.\r\n\r\nWe keep informed by watching the 24-hour TV coverage of the incredible damage and human suffering along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in Orleans Parish. Unfortunately not much is shown in the other parishes affected by Hurricane Katrina where suffering was just as bad. I guess the pictures weren’t as dramatic in parishes with well-organized and implemented emergency plans. \r\n\r\nTHE FAMILY\r\n\r\nThe nephew’s house in Diamondhead was hit by a pine tree, resulting in minimal damage. It did not flood but several homes down the street did while one collapsed and another had walls blown out. They said the storm surge at the head of the Bay of St Louis had to have been over 30 ft to reach their subdivision (no survey to substantiate that at this time). The yacht club, marina, restaurant, and homes built on the shoreline were destroyed. For the most part only slabs, concrete steps, or pilings remain of homes built along and extending three-quarters to one mile inland across the coastal lowlands from Bayou Caddy to Ocean Springs, MS. So much for elevation being the salvation to inundation. The recommended coastal construction practices may work for lesser storms, but not for the Category 4 plus such as Katrina pushing a 25 ft plus storm surge. FEMA teams will eventually document the devastation and the validity and implementation of construction practices. \r\n\r\nTo the best of our knowledge my bother’s house in Metairie did not flood or suffer wind damage, only a tree blown down. However, no one can confirm this or if levee breaks caused flooding in Jefferson Parish, their New Orleans suburb. No one can return to Metairie or Jefferson Parish until Monday (Labor Day) morning. My brother will avoid the world’s longest traffic jam as the surge of evacuees try to go home. On Tuesday they will assess the potential traffic jam and decide when to return to assess the damage to their property and retrieve personal items (pictures, etc. heirlooms). And then because of no power, no water, no sewage, they must leave again until all services are restored. This may take another month. \r\n\r\nThe nephew’s house in New Orleans may have some water inside even though it is in an older section of town and on piers. He cannot get into NO for about another month. Breaches in the levees must be closed, the streets drained, trees removed, and the power, water, and sanitary systems returned to service. \r\n\r\n\r\nFloodwaters in Orleans, St. Bernard, or Plaquemines parishes did not discriminate on income or social status, inundating upper end subdivisions and low-income houses to the rooftops. Businesses are closed; the economy has literally stopped. Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, and Plaquesmines parishes are under a mandatory evacuation as gas, sewage, and unknown chemicals and dead critters pollute floodwaters. The metro area and the Mississippi Gulf coast have had better Labor Day weekends.\r\n\r\nI am happy to report my family is healthy and safe. I will keep you informed as things evolve. South Louisiana and coastal Mississippi will rebuild just as others did after the fires in the Berkley Hills, the San Francisco and Los Angles frequent earthquakes, the Upper Mississippi River flood, Florida hurricanes, and the Great Plains blizzards. \r\n\r\nAfter all, this is south Louisiana and “Hurricanes Happen.”\r\n\r\nI truly appreciate your expressions of concern and prayers for all of us. \r\n\r\nThank you.\r\n\r\nRod Emmer\r\n\r\nPS. Flooplain Managers care. The board of the Louisiana Floodplain Management Association voted to give $1,000 to the Louisiana State Troopers Association to help those officers who lost their homes and possessions. They are on duty nonetheless. We decided to honor one of the smaller, seldom recognized, but no less important, organizations. The big national organizations have fundraisers, but we wanted to help one of our own who are all too often forgotten.