CONVERGION REALITY 2012
S urviving K atrina by Lekoma Akate
WAS GOOD PRACTICE
The alarm sounded at 1:00 a.m. on August 29, 2005. I turned on the local weather to check the storm’s progress. As I figured, hurricane force winds were here and the storm was making landfall. As I got out of bed to take some items from the freezer, the electricity went off. Five minutes too late! I got them anyway putting them in an ice chest. I planned to keep the fridge/freezer closed for as long as possible to maintain the cold. Then back to bed. I would need to be rested when the weather eased. It was a very hot, muggy night. I couldn’t open a window because the wind would blow rain through the smallest crack. No circulation, the house was rockin’ (literally) and I was trying to sleep without letting the anxiety get to me. The sounds of large limbs falling on the house and the wind making terrible noise did not help. At daybreak, I awoke to a very different world. There was no electricity, no water, trees and utility poles down, buildings
blown apart, debris still blowing by at high speed and I was alone on our street with my two dogs and three cats. I felt more like there was a lot of work to do rather than feeling afraid. I started the clean up process and was surprised at my lack of hunger. I learned several things living through Katrina and the aftermath. Something everyone learned was ‘stuff’ is just ‘stuff,’ but friends and neighbors are vital. The help everyone gave each other in that timing, across racial, financial and cultural differences, was truly amazing. Boundaries disappeared. Total strangers loaned tools and supplies and they were returned. Though authorities did not stop to see if everyone was okay, friends of friends did. The first to help distribute food and supplies were a group of Native Americans from Oklahoma. The first to arrive in St. Bernard Parish, east of New Orleans and 100% flooded, were the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It was a week before the National Guard came in and kicked everyone out to ‘handle’ things themselves.
Things to have in addition to standard hurricane preparedness items are: • Battery powered fans, extra batteries • Soaking laundry detergent • Bow saws and other hand tools • Several ice chests filled with ice and food for three days without opening the fridge • Enough water to flush the toilet once per day per person for two weeks • Berkey water purification system (requires no plumbing or electricity) • Paper and pen to keep a journal and your sanity • An open mind, heart, and relaxation techniques • Practice brushing your teeth from a glass of water The ‘disaster’ resulted in unification of people as one Tribe. Everyone helped everyone else. Wouldn’t it be great if we could adopt that attitude every day of our lives? Lekoma Akate is a native New Orleanian who moved from New Orleans to Central FL in 2010. He has earned a Masters of Science from Louisiana State University and a Masters of Education from the University of New Orleans. Lekoma is an avid gardener, musician, health enthusiast, and owner of SowingLite.com, promoting health, sustainability and self-sufficiency. Please see ad this page.
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