Premium Essay

My Life After Hurricane Katrina

Submitted By
Words 634
Pages 3
What would you do if you lost things you did not give much thought about prior to losing? Back when Hurricane Sandy hit the US in 2012, I was living in New Jersey. I was lucky that I lived in the western part of the state. My house was not destroyed by the hurricane, but my household, consisting of my mom, brother, and me, was inconvienenced for two weeks. A day before a drop of rain even touched my house, everyone was preparing for it. People were stocking up on food at the grocery store, and schools called hours in advance to tell students school would be closed the next day.
When the hurricane came to my community, everyone in the town could tell. The raindrops were heavy, and the wind was violently blowing on the trees, making the trees rapidly shake back and forth. Leaves could be heard rustling. Lightning struck on the transformer on the power line, causing it to go out with sparks and static sound. My mom, brother and I ended up sleeping in the hallway that night, just in case the windows broke. …show more content…
All of the stores closed shop, and there was not a single person at the gas stations. The largest tree in front of my house collapsed, and the other large tree was close to falling, but never did. My family had no electricity or plumbing, so we had to make due with what we had. The only way to eat food was by put it in the fireplace. It was mostly canned food, since the refrigerator was not working. The candles around the house were lit, since that was the only way to have light in the house. We were limited on bathroom use, and had to use hand sanitizer in lieu of washing our

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

From the Bayou to the Books

...years dodging hurricanes and massive Tropical storms but unfortunately one year my luck ran out. HURRICANE KATRINA: Satellite Images Confirm Aerosol Geoengineering and EM Modification of CAT-3 Storm Chemtrails The tropical depression that became Hurricane Katrina formed over the Bahamas on August 23, 2005, and meteorologists were soon able to warn people in the Gulf Coast states that a major storm was on its way. By August 28, evacuations were underway across the region. That day, the National Weather Service predicted that after the storm hit, most of the [Gulf Coast] area will be uninhabitable for weeks…perhaps longer. By the time Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans early in the morning on Monday, August 29, it had already been raining heavily for hours. When the storm surge (as high as 15 to 20 feet in some places) arrived, it overwhelmed many of the city’s unstable levees and drainage canals. Water seeped through the soil underneath some levees and swept others away altogether. By 9 a.m., low-lying places like St. Charles Parish (my home parish) and the Ninth Ward were under so much water that people had to scramble to attics and rooftops for safety. Eventually, nearly 80 percent of the city was under some quantity of water. Death, destruction, and terror all wrapped up in a beautiful satellite picture. Katrina hit my home state and caused the horrific scene that was plastered on everyone’s televisions. The memory of this event made me appreciate life...

Words: 1548 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Hurricane Katrina Failures

...9 RUNNING HEAD: LEADERSHIP FAILURES DURING KATRINA ​​​ Leadership Failures of Hurricane Katrina ​​​​ Mark L. Perkins ​​​ Webster University ​​​​​ MNGT 6000 ​​​​ Professor Lee Trovas ​​​​ February27th2014 ​​​​​​Abstract Hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent history, not only because of the severity of the storm, which couldn’t be prevented, but due to poor planning and the years it took to rebuild and allow the people of New Orleans to move on with their lives.Hurricane Katrina happened four (4) years after the September 11th terrorist attacks and three (3) years after the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and one (1) year after the DHS had created a National Response Plan. With the world watching the Federal Government failed the people of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. The government failed to show initiative and the ability to provide for the basic needs for the people of New Orleans on many levels, including planning, logistics and communication during the natural disaster and the aftermath of the storm. . Introduction I’m going to discuss several failures of leadership and not just on the federal government but on the city and state as well. There are too many to fault that are identified later in this disaster ranging from pre-planning,...

Words: 3104 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Ashley Buras

...6:00-8:45 HURRICANE KATRINA Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst hurricanes to make landfall. I was a victim of Katrina. Hurricane Katrina made my life very difficult and had some positive effects as well. My family and I evacuated from New Orleans to Lafayette the weekend before it made landfall. The traffic was horrible, all you saw from miles was brake lights. It should have only taken three hours to get to Lafayette, instead it took 13 hours. The next few days we stayed at my great grandparents house waiting for phone calls from my grandparents that stayed back in New Orleans. Once the hurricane hit all of the telephone towers were down, and we could no longer get in contact with my grandparents. Everyone began to panic because there was nothing that they could do. A day later the rest of my family on my mother's side arrived at my great grandparent's house. We had a total of 13 people living there because once the news came on during the hurricane we were basically told we were homeless. For the next two weeks our job was to locate my grandparents, who were still in New Orleans, which was totally under water. Soon after that we got the news that everyone was helping out and bringing refugees to the Cajun Dome, in Lafayette, so my dad and uncle took off to the Cajun Dome in search of my grandparents. After three hours of searching for my grandparents they finally found them. They were very disoriented and scared. My dad and uncle brought them back to my great grandparent's...

Words: 419 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Hurricane Digital Memory Bank Summary

...“Hurricane Digital Memory Bank” is an ethical representation of the natural disaster, Hurricane Katrina. It has nothing negative on the website towards anyone or anything that I have seen. We all realize that this natural disaster was a terrible event; therefore there is some unpleasant pictures and stories but nothing that is considered unethical. In the archive, values of the people who have posted stories and pictures are somewhat present in select features. Some have talked about how they relied on God during this terrible time, praying and having faith. One photograph shows a rainbow as the hurricane is approaching. The caption speaks about the family relating this as God’s promise in the Biblical story of the flood and that God would...

Words: 709 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Contrast the Styles of Two Athletes Who Play the Same Sports

...Dr. Xiongya Gao English 111 September 22, 2014 On August 29, 2005, there was a hurricane forming in the Gulf of Mexico. Her name was Katrina. It started as a small tropical storm, but as it entered the warm waters of the Gulf it grew to be a monstrous storm. So monstrous, that it would destroy anything in its path. Covering the coast lines of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. During this time, I contacted family members of their plans. We decided to head in different directions and hoped for the best. We all loaded the cars and proceeded towards the interstate. I must say traffic was really horrible. It seemed like everyone decided to leave the day before this monstrous storm hit. After driving over 6 hours, we decided to get a hotel room with no prior reservations. As we approached the entrance there was a line out the door. After speaking with the receptionist there were only two rooms available. We stayed at the Marriott Hotel in Jackson, Mississippi. It was a nice hotel that was full of staff that served complimentary snacks and drinks. My husband and I were glued to the television and knew about what was going on. As the storm approached we waited downstairs it the dining area. The weather started to get worse. The winds rose and the rain falling down hard. After returning to the room water started leaking heavily from the ceiling. Then came the horror stories. Hurricane Katrina directly impacted families by disrupting and forcing family members to adjust to differing...

Words: 898 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Hurrican Disaster

...Many businesses lost important records during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, however; “Until the overwhelming destruction of Hurricane Katrina occurred, most businesspeople never even thought about their records management needs” (Cadence Group, 2005, p. 1). However, record management must occur if businesses expect to maintain accurate records of transactions that occurred with customers, clients, or patients. Many organizations currently encourage electronic record storage because “Recent events have put a spotlight on the problems and heartache caused by not protecting your vital records from damage and loss” (Cadence Group, 2005, p. 1). Organizations face challenges when converting records to electronic format, however; credible information technology specialists oversee the process to ensure accuracy, integrity, and the ability to access, update, and retrieve records efficiently. During Hurricane Katrina Golf Coast Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, lost most of the patient records stored in the basement because of water damage on August 29, 2005. The 350-bed facility managed to implement measures allowing patients to obtain medical records to seek treatment at other medical facilities and to aid in the loss of life identifying process of patients who had medical records on file with the hospital. Golf Coast Hospital lacked the proper resources to fully ensure EMR record safety before the hurricane. However, Hurricane Katrina sparked a revelation throughout the country to...

Words: 2423 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

Fema

...Communication: Past and Present HCS/320 July 25, 2013 Sandra Alviso Communication: Past and Present Every country suffers from natual dissasters. In 1979 at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station there was a malfunction that Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton miss communicated to the public. (Rose, 2011). In 2005 Mother Nature brought Hurricane Katrina to the coast Lousiana and, she devastated the city of New Orleans. Today our community’s natural disaster is a life-threatening biological agent which has spread in the water supply of several towns. Technology has changed the way a community in a disaserous situation communicates after the Three Mile Island and Hurricane Katrina. Comparing the way an Emergency Management Office communicates with the public and the groups involved, the advantages and challenges that come with the past and present communication technology, and the media opportunities used in today’s world. Individuals and Groups With a life-threatening situation there are many individuals and groups internally and externally that need to be notified of the situation. Within the office the entire staff needs to be aware of the seriousness of the situation. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Center for Disease Control Center (CDC) are a few federal agencies that need to be aware of the situation. The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) was directed by Congress to develop the first National...

Words: 1574 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

American Red Cross Response To Hurricane Katrina Efficiency

...AMERICAN RED CROSS AND THE KATRINA EMERGENCY 3 The American Red Cross has people, systems, and plans in place to respond to disasters. They are considered the go-to agency in cases of emergencies and crisis when people are in need, with much success. The American Red Cross response to Hurricane Katrina surpassed any disaster response before it and nothing in the last ten years has reached its magnitude. “The Red Cross: Provided more than 3.8 million overnight stays in shelters across 31 states and Washington, D.C. – seven times higher than any other disaster up to that point. Served nearly 68 million meals and snacks, four times more than what the Red Cross had ever provided during past relief efforts. For the first time, served a million meals in a single day. Provided emergency financial assistance to 1.4 million families – nearly 20 times more than any response prior to Katrina” (The American Red Cross, 2017). These numbers show how effective their planning can be, nevertheless with the magnitude of...

Words: 1630 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Crisis Communication

...Business Date: December 8, 2014 Terry Tolliver I have read and understand the plagiarism policy as outlined in the syllabus and the sections in the Student Bulletin relating to the IWU Honesty/Cheating Policy. By affixing this statement to the title page of my paper, I certify that I have not cheated or plagiarized in the process of completing this assignment. If it is found that cheating and/or plagiarism did take place in the writing of this paper, I understand the possible consequences of the act’s, which could include expulsion from Indiana Wesleyan University. Crisis Communication Critique Paper Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans on August 25, 2005. It was a category 2 tropical typhoon that devastated vast parts of the city. The canals that were in New Orleans were not built to withstand the typhoon. This typhoon caused canal breaches and pumping-station failures. This caused a great deal of flooding of about 80 percent of the areas in New Orleans. Hurricane Katina caused a great deal of damage and displacement of many residents. There was a lot of blame placed on the engineers and the federally built flood protection system. That system was supposed to protect the residents from Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans was settled on a high ground along the Mississippi River. An extension was created near Lake Pontchartrain to help bring the level where it needed to be. Other areas were addressed in 1940 and in 1965 the United States Army Corps of Engineers built...

Words: 974 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Incarceration In Joe's Beyond Katrina

...community more than Joe’s story. Weaving her own memories with the experiences of family and friends, Natasha chose to represent, in her book Beyond Katrina the story of Joe's attempt to rebuild his life and the simple tragic act that leads to his incarceration. Before Katrina, Joe's life and business is on track. “He was a hard worker – efficient and likeable” (46). After Katrina, the misery of natural disaster and the injustice in the government reforms forced him to yield to the temptation of a lucrative drug deal, leading to his imprisonment. Without a doubt, it is the hurricane Katrina that made him end up in prison; yet the prison is where he began writing to Natasha, or at least at first....

Words: 479 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Research Paper on Hurricane Wilma

...Hurricane Wilma November 24, 2015 Geology 1401 Introducion: Cyclones, Hurricanes, and Typhoons, these cyclonic storms are known by many names but are all born from the same mechanism: low pressure systems. Also known as depressions. Thankfully, most hurricanes form only during hurricane season, which is from June 1st to November 30th. Within this season about 85 percent of the most intense hurricanes and 60 percent of minor Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes originate from African easterly waves (NOAA Cyclone Report). These waves, which have a wavelength of 2000 to 2500 kilo-meters, originate close to or from the highlands of Ethiopia, Africa. Not all easterly waves become hurricanes, but the ones that do travel through Africa thousands of miles in the direction of the Atlantic Ocean. On the way to the Atlantic Ocean these waves transform into a cluster of thunder storms. Once these clusters reach the Atlantic Ocean, the warm humid air from the sea allows them to expand while also escalating their intensity. Due to wind direction and the Coriolis Effect the thunder storm begins to rotate along its centre, forming a tropical depression. As the circular rotations of a tropical depression become progressively more organized, they form a tropical storm. By this point, the heat of the ocean only serves to intensify the power of a tropical storm. The moment winds within reach 119 kilo-meters per hour or more, is the storm then defined as a hurricane....

Words: 2307 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

The Case for, or Against New Orleans

...will represent the residents of New Orleans, the residents of the surrounding floods plains, the Mayor of New Orleans, and the federal government represented by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the taxpayers. We will look at scenario models, risk management, and decision trees to support our decisions and analysis. This natural disaster took an enormous toll on the residents of New Orleans. Over 1200 lives were lost and countless injuries were suffered. The loss of revenue from the shutdown of businesses, loss of homes and possessions of residents caused much pain and human suffering. We will conclude with an executive summary which will summarize our decision for or against rebuilding of New Orleans. Prior to the hurricane New Orleans was a tourism magnet. The city offered many restaurants, festivals, and great weather. These positives made tourism a thriving market. Other boons for the economy of New Orleans were the mining, transportation, and warehousing along its waterways. More products came through this port than any other port in the world. There are many colleges in the area than add to the economic bottom line of the city. Many things added to the beauty of the city. The diverse culturalism with many nationalities represented including the French, Spanish, Germans, Haitians, and other afro-American and Caribbean people made New Orleans a melting pot for many things. Jazz, Blues, Creole cooking and Gumbo are part of the history of New Orleans...

Words: 2509 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Hurricane Katrina

...Hurricane Katrina was one of the five deadliest and most destructive hurricanes in United States History. There were at least 1833 deaths and 80 billion in damages. I was not personally affected by Hurricane Katrina. However, I remember seeing news coverage on the tragedy. I remember seeing all the destruction that the hurricane had caused, seeing people trying to hold on to whatever they could. I was in middle school at the time and several students who were survivors of the tragedy were move to my class. This one student in particular I remember him telling me how his family had lost everything. He was worried how him and his five siblings and his mother were going to make it; they were in a new place and they knew no one. He shared with me that even though he was happy that him and his family were safe he missed New Orleans and wanted to go back. After several months I did not see him anymore. I am not sure if he did make it back to New Orleans. Anthony David Feat. Algebra & Phonte Kenny Lattimore – “For You” Luther Vandross – “Here And Now Monica – “Angel of Mine” Kc JoJO all my life Eric Benet Tamia Spend My life with you Jagged edge lets get married Luther/Mariah endless Mariah carey Monica for you I will Lovin you Mariah carey vision love Emeli sande ny kind of love John Legend All of me John Legend Nobody in the world Jagged edge rest of my life The one he kept for me You Caught me Tori Kelly Beyonce my heart still beats Your my everything boys...

Words: 695 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Argument Essay

...late August of 1992, the Isle of Capri casino’s first riverboats docked at the east end of Biloxi Beach in Biloxi, Mississippi to take in passengers to gamble on shore and since then Gulf Coast has never looked back. However, not everyone in 1990 was in favor of the newly enacted Gaming Control Act especially along the Gulf Coast. Many of the coastal resident families and others living near these towns have been living there for generations and were not ready to see their “sleepy town” transformed into “the nation’s hottest new gambling hub” (Myerson). Many of these residents and public officials believed legalizing gaming would promote “crime, higher rates of divorce, and poverty from personal bankruptcy” from residents spending their life savings (Myerson). Now more than twenty years later the exact opposite of oppositionist’s future predictions have occurred and casinos have been the greatest thing to happen to the Mississippi Gulf Coast since the seafood industry began. The coastal casinos do countless great things such as lower property taxes, fund public school projects, give back millions of dollars to charity, greatly enhanced the tourism market, drives the economical activity, and much more for the Gulf Coast. With all of these great upsides casinos provide and very few downsides, I believe it is clear that the casinos are great for Mississippi and the Gulf Coast area. Before the major casino boom in the 1990’s, the Mississippi Gulf Coast was a very quiet, religious...

Words: 1970 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Ptsd

...Marc McDougal Chapter 15 - #1 Anxiety disorders are a class of disorders marked by feelings of excessive apprehension and anxiety. Studies suggest that anxiety disorders are quite common, and affect roughly 19% of the population. For this assignment I am focusing on a subject with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Post-traumatic Stress Disorder involves enduring psychological disturbance attributed to the experience of a major traumatic event. My subject is now 38, and lived in New Orleans when hurricane Katrina ravished through the south. His symptoms include re-experiencing the event in the form of nightmares, emotional numbing, alienation, anxiety, anger, and guilt. Research suggests that about 7% of the population has suffered from PTSD at some point in their life, and that prevalence is twice as high among women.¹ The etiology of PTSD, like most psychological disorders, develops out of complicated interactions among a variety of biological and psychological factors. In this case, my subject had witnessed many people die, lose their homes, and devastate his city of New Orleans. There are many factors that play into the role of PTSD; I’ll briefly cover each of them. * Biological factors: In studies that assess the impact of heredity on psychological disorders, investigators look at concordance rates. A concordance rate indicates the percentage of twin pairs or other pairs of relatives who exhibit the same disorder. The results of these...

Words: 1615 - Pages: 7