What Did YOU Learn From Hurricane Katrina?

BigTex

I learned that a cooler with wheels is a better tool than one would think.

I also learned that evacuating early is a good idea, if you have the luxury of notice.
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Ferretlover

That FEMA, publicly, demonstrated that they were not Really in existence to help the citizenry, but, indeed, there to protect the government's physical assets.
That, living in a place that was equal to or lower than sea level, there were a Lot of stupid people who weren't prepared for bad weather.
That, living in a place that was equal to or lower than sea level, there are Still a lot of people who did not learn a lesson, and, in the end deserve what they will get when the next big storm hits.
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"RRrrruuuunnnn!!!" ~Apocalypto

Shannymara

That people will sit on the freeway for hours without moving, rather than get out and walk or ride a bike a few miles inland to safety. Actually I learned that more from Rita than Katrina. So if you have a bike and a backpack with supplies, and a little notice, you're gold.

Also learned how vulnerable the gov't is to communications breakdowns. And that I should always have a hatchet and weapon(s) handy. Lots of things, really.
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I drink your milkshake.

BigTex

Corrupt state and local governments are especially poorly suited for disaster assistance.

I think if the same thing had hit Houston it would have been a VERY different story.
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patience · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 818

I learned several things from that period. My wife's brother is a city cop in Houston. When the Katrina expats arrived there, the crime rate went out the roof. He told of a major furniture store (chain?) owner who came to the Dome where refugees were housed driving a 60 passenger schoolbus. He offered up to 60 people a job, to pay their first month's rent, and buy groceries for them for a week until they got their first check. Stampede, right?

Wrong. He got TWO takers!!!! The rest were content to sit on their collective asses and let the govt feed 'em. Shoulda shot every last one of the lazy SOB's that didn't try to get in line for that.

So. I learned that this group of people at least are lazier and more stupid than I thought possible. I mean, they DID live below sea level.

That situation taught me that any charity should have some sort of strings attached to prove the recipient is worth helping.

Oh yeah, and it made clear that when disaster strikes, don't count on anyone but yourself for help. The govt won't help, and they will prevent anyone else from doing so, at gunpoint, if necessary. I heard those tales, too.
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Local fix-it guy..

Ainan · Heavy Crude Joined: Feb 18, 2008 Posts: 122

I'm a British guy, never been to America or anything but here is what i learned from the mass media.

"George Bush hates black people"

"Mass looting and firefights broke out"

"Zombie hordes and gangs everywhere"

Now heres what I've read online:

"The police and government troops were shooting civilians"

"The police and government troops wouldn't let people out of the area, forcing them at gun point to the super dome(The stadium?)"

"The only thing people looted from private businesses were food/water and medical supply's"

What am i to believe? I would really like it if anyone who was there could write up their experiences in reasonable detail. I've read a number of them online before, but all those were the smart survivalist types who left before the storm hit.(Although i hope everyone here left before it hit too)

FourOfSwords · Heavy Crude Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 397

What Did YOU Learn From Hurricane Katrina? ~ For the first time I was able to view the soft underbelly of the beast... and it was disconcerting.
Alex

Pops

#1 Research the topography of the region around your home or prospective home - don't live on a floodplain; let alone below sea level.

#2 Don't rely on others to take care of things you should.

And in the aftermath:

#3 Rely on everything to be the fault of the "Other Party".

#4 If more than one person is at fault, no one is to blame.
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...ladies and gentlemen, we're not here to indulge in fantasy, but in political and economic reality.
--Gekko.

"I hope my own children never have to fight a war,"
--GHW Bush, Naval Aviator

Ludi

Ludi

canis_lupus

Outstanding question.

1. I learned that when experts predict the Big One, it doesn't register with most people. I learned that after twenty years of warnings and 'what ifs' nightmares come true in real life. I was embarassed with myself about how long it took me to move from 'is this really happening' to 'it's finally happened'. I'll always keep a finger in the wind and never allow myself to be shocked from now on.

2. I learned that those with the most risk were the most unprepared. I live in tornado-land and thought I had my bug out bag ready to grab and run down to the basement. After Katrina, I got a little more prepared. Organized the plans when the siren goes off with Mrs. Lupus: She grabs the cat and the wedding pictures and goes downstairs. I grab my Mac Mini, the bug out bag, and the Important Papers file (wedding cert, birth certs, titles to the cars, etc.) If I feel lucky, I come back upstairs for the only two material possessions that I'm fond of: my first Stratocaster (second guitar bought with my own money) and my acoustic (3rd guitar).

3. I learned that anyone who trusts the government to make their lives better are fools.

4. I learned that when the experts say 'run for it' it's usually best. Anyone with a backpack could have found themselves in a better place by hiking 4 miles per hour for a day.

5. I learned that the distance between the most powerful first world country can collapse into the jungle in only two days.

6. I learned that the toughness has been bred out of us. I read of the Blitz and Londoners living in the tube and wonder who today has the stones for it?

wisconsin_cur

I learned to trust my instincts.

For years I had thought that New Orleans was a death trap waiting for the right hurricane. I was demonstrated correct. This, along with some other events that confirmed my instincts have led me to trust myself more.

Trusting those instincts is what has moved me from thinking that peak oil might be a problem to preparing because it will be a problem; a very nasty and unpredictable problem.
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I can tell your fancy I can tell your plain
You give something up for ev'rything you gain
Since ev'ry pleasure's got an edge of pain
Pay for your ticket and don't complain.
-Bobby D.

BigTex

wisconsin_cur

seldom_seen · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Apr 12, 2005 Posts: 1829

People like beer. In good times and bad.