I was reading different articles today on the internet when I was reminded that the Hurricane Katrina’s ten year anniversary in approaching. As you can expect, there will be several documentaries—some sensational and some rather interesting that will be airing during the next week. I do not know the schedules, but I am sure there will be some media coverage during the anniversary period. I did find a good overview of the hurricane on the History Channel website, if you are interested in learning more about the event.
Hurricane Katrina was significant to the nation’s history, I believe in many ways. For one, it was the first large scale event to occur after 9-11—that I remember. The hurricane cause major damage to the New Orleans area, permanently altering life in the Gulf States. While the hurricane did not end life there, the lasting effects of the hurricane are still very evident in the lives of many from that region. The lessons learned are still being taught at many different FEMA training sessions around the country. The lack of trust in the government’s ability to handle large national emergencies was also called in question. While many of the rumors that were circulated during the storm have been found to be untrue, hurricane did highlight some major questions of ethics and procedures in the way we consider emergency response.
What is not highlighted many times in the storm coverage, are the heroes of the storm that drove in to work to serve or to volunteer help others. We need to celebrate those who go in after the storms to provide care to the masses. Never do they do what they do for recognition, but they do serve our communities and our nation by supporting those who are hurting during critical times.