Never Underestimate the Caring Spirit of Your Fellow Human Beings
Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ike
by Kay Karr
Hurricane Ike - September 2008
As a lifelong educator, I am committed to being a lifelong learner, and that means that many lessons will come from living life and not from text books or classroom instruction. As an educator I have served in many different roles: classroom teacher, principal, and superintendent. With each of these roles, there have come many opportunities for “lessons learned”. As a redirected superintendent the opportunities for lessons learned have not ceased. In fact, they have enabled me to look at them through different, and often clearer, lenses.
In August 2005, I experienced Hurricane Katrina, as a provider of shelter and resources. Hurricane Rita quickly followed in September, and I learned new lessons as an evacuee. To document these lessons, I became the Executive Producer of a documentary film entitled, “Why Plan”, a video that captured lessons learned by Texas schools through their experiences with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
And now, having once again experienced the role of an evacuee, whose community was devastated by Hurricane Ike, I have learned new lessons. Many of these new lessons have once again provided a new perspective – through the eyes of someone who was blessed by sustaining little personal damage and loss, but someone who has become a first-hand observer and provider of help to others who suffered untold loss and devastation. It is these lessons that I want to share.
Disasters and tragedies tend to polarize the reactions and responses of those impacted. Some react with heroic human kindness, while others display the very basest of human behaviors, trying to take personal advantage of others’ tragedies.
My goal in writing this is to share some personal human interest observations, in the hope that it will help others to see disasters, not through the eyes of the media, but through the eyes of an average person living through the disaster. Each of the comments or observations below could easily be developed into lengthy, stand-alone accounts; however, my intention is to simply offer a glimpse into the reality of the aftermath of a large scale disaster.
In August 2005, I experienced Hurricane Katrina, as a provider of shelter and resources. Hurricane Rita quickly followed in September, and I learned new lessons as an evacuee. To document these lessons, I became the Executive Producer of a documentary film entitled, “Why Plan”, a video that captured lessons learned by Texas schools through their experiences with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
And now, having once again experienced the role of an evacuee, whose community was devastated by Hurricane Ike, I have learned new lessons. Many of these new lessons have once again provided a new perspective – through the eyes of someone who was blessed by sustaining little personal damage and loss, but someone who has become a first-hand observer and provider of help to others who suffered untold loss and devastation. It is these lessons that I want to share.
Disasters and tragedies tend to polarize the reactions and responses of those impacted. Some react with heroic human kindness, while others display the very basest of human behaviors, trying to take personal advantage of others’ tragedies.
My goal in writing this is to share some personal human interest observations, in the hope that it will help others to see disasters, not through the eyes of the media, but through the eyes of an average person living through the disaster. Each of the comments or observations below could easily be developed into lengthy, stand-alone accounts; however, my intention is to simply offer a glimpse into the reality of the aftermath of a large scale disaster.
Observation #1
Returning to ravaged communities and beginning the cleanup and recovery efforts presents one with opportunities to play the role of a heroic figure such as the “Crocodile Hunter”…Be prepared for dealing with heaps of worms inside your home, snakes as the new inhabitants of your dwelling, and alligators as new neighbors.
Returning to ravaged communities and beginning the cleanup and recovery efforts presents one with opportunities to play the role of a heroic figure such as the “Crocodile Hunter”…Be prepared for dealing with heaps of worms inside your home, snakes as the new inhabitants of your dwelling, and alligators as new neighbors.
Observation #2
Be prepared for inconveniences. You may have to drive for miles, even crossing state lines, to find such common place items as gasoline, groceries, and post offices who, because they are rural and have not been totally computerized, can still operate. And, as a word of advice based on experience, be prepared for a lack of clear thinking. You may find that you’ve forgotten to take your purse – not once but twice in the same day – when you’ve gone in pursuit of these necessities for those who are depending on you. It seems that a mental fog and confusion, often accompanied by unexplained depression, seem to be ready companions.
Be prepared for inconveniences. You may have to drive for miles, even crossing state lines, to find such common place items as gasoline, groceries, and post offices who, because they are rural and have not been totally computerized, can still operate. And, as a word of advice based on experience, be prepared for a lack of clear thinking. You may find that you’ve forgotten to take your purse – not once but twice in the same day – when you’ve gone in pursuit of these necessities for those who are depending on you. It seems that a mental fog and confusion, often accompanied by unexplained depression, seem to be ready companions.
Observation #3
When determining startup dates for “relatively” undamaged school facilities, consider the following questions.
The response to this question was an unbelievable 98% of her children had no homes, nor any clothes or any other possessions.
When determining startup dates for “relatively” undamaged school facilities, consider the following questions.
- How will you provide drinking water when the local water plants are still submerged? I saw truckloads of bottled water distributed to area schools daily.
- How will you deal with sewer needs when the local sewer systems are still under water and not functioning?
- How will you staff your schools when staff members have no homes and are living in tents and cars?
- How will your students respond to the return? Do they have places to live? Do they have clothes to wear? Do they have food to eat?
- How will you provide opportunities to “debrief” and talk with experienced counselors, many of whom have suffered the same losses.
- How important are English, math, geography, etc. when faced with the challenges of just surviving?
The response to this question was an unbelievable 98% of her children had no homes, nor any clothes or any other possessions.
Observation #4
Based on a quote from literature, I share the following: “In the midst of darkness, bright flows the river of God.” The following are examples of the very best of what makes us human and what constitutes some of my most memorable and meaningful lessons learned.
Based on a quote from literature, I share the following: “In the midst of darkness, bright flows the river of God.” The following are examples of the very best of what makes us human and what constitutes some of my most memorable and meaningful lessons learned.
- One of our community’s elementary schools, one of the few undamaged, is hosting “HALLoween” in the hallways of their elementary school where children from neighborhood elementary schools who lost their entire campuses and homes can take part in traditional Halloween festivities.
- Area school districts have come together in the true spirit of collaboration and entered into an agreement whereby neighboring district school buses will pick up displaced students, now living in another school district, and transport them to their home campuses.
- Big city, Houston schools have “adopted” area campuses that no longer exist and are providing such help as the “One for Books” initiative where an elementary campus from the Cypress-Fairbanks school district is sponsoring a fund raiser to assist two Bridge City schools who were 6 feet under water and lost every book in the buildings. Students can donate money that will be used to buy books, AND Scholastic Book Fairs will match each dollar donation with a book - $1.00=1 Book! Additionally, this same school is sponsoring a “Helping Hands” drive to collect items for another school district. They are collecting items in several categories that will be delivered to the devastated schools: Baby supplies, Cleaning supplies, Kid-Friendly food, and Basic Needs. They have also scheduled a book drive to follow this initial “Helping Hands” project.
All in all, the greatest lesson I’ve learned is to never underestimate the caring spirit of your fellow human beings. The media may highlight the worst of the human spirit – looting, fraud, etc. – but the majority of humans still come forward in a spirit of caring and helping.
Yes, lessons have been learned and one lesson continues to be reinforced for me as a school administrator: “We are in charge of people’s most important possession: their children.”
Yes, lessons have been learned and one lesson continues to be reinforced for me as a school administrator: “We are in charge of people’s most important possession: their children.”
More about Kay Karr
Why Plan? | "Why Plan?" Video Free for Principals | Link to Store to Buy "Why Plan?"
Safe to Learn Advisory Council | Kay Karr | Link to Responsive Learning | Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ike
Why Plan? | "Why Plan?" Video Free for Principals | Link to Store to Buy "Why Plan?"
Safe to Learn Advisory Council | Kay Karr | Link to Responsive Learning | Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ike