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Letter Re: Observations on Tropical Storm Isaac
“Fool me once, Fool me twice.” Yes, you would think after Hurricane Katrina that people would have learned their lesson about staying in low lying areas.
However, resilient as most people are, the one thing that many always do, no matter what is stay. Then being caught in an impossible situation rely on the government for help.
I am a hurricane veteran. At 59, and having lived 20 miles west of New Orleans all of my life, I have survived Betsy in ’65 right up and through Isaac.
For Hurricane Besty, I was only a child but I remember the broken tiles flying off the roof, the boards cracking and falling off the windows, my mom praying the hallway, and the aftermath of no sewerage, no water, no electricity and the awful heat and humidity of the next week. If you really want to know what a grid down situation is like, forget the power and try living without running water for a few days. Fast forward to Katrina, we decided to evacuate for that storm. We left early that morning and arrived at our retreat 70 miles north of my home on the south shore of Lake Ponchartain. Unfortunately we left so fast, we forgot the generator and my son brought some extra food and supplies. For Gustaf, we also went to the retreat but this time we were prepared. We now had solar cells and a wind generator, backup generators, stored food and Direct TV for news. Now for Isaac, we decided to stay home on the south shore. My friend and son went to the retreat on the north shore. The reason we decided to stay was two fold. First of all, it was only a tropical storm. Two, I was sick with a terrible sore throat (flu) whatever and was not in the mood to do anything but try to get through the pain. (it really was awful) As a result of my illness, I was not able to do last minute preps.
First valuable lesson. Do not get sick before or during a major event. Then ladies, don’t expect you husband to go to the store without a list of what to buy. Cookies and ice cream do not constitute food in a grid down situation. I asked to return with food items like soup. (Just a few cans). Did you know how many types of soup exist? Do you know how many cans of soup can fit into a car? No wonder the stores run out of food. I can tell you, we won’t need soup for a long time. Second problem. How are we going to heat the soup? No I have an opener, I wasn’t that sick. Well, with no electricity and no sterno heat cans, my husband suggested we could use his propane torch. OK, think! by the way, I still have the hot plate and magnetic stirrer from my days as a chemistry teacher. Good. Using the generator we can plug it in and heat.
Next lesson. Why did the gas generator work fine the day before the storm and then when the power goes off and it is dark, the generator has issues?
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