Liberty's Blog

Something Learned

I've learned a lot about a lot of things this week. I learned things about myself about emergencys, and even about the blogosphere. I shouldn't be surprised though. I was removed from my comfort zone and into a situation that I hadn't quite been through before, of course I learned some things. Some lessons in life are pretty hard sometimes things come pretty easy. I've been lucky these things were learned pretty painlessly.

• I learned that a disastor plan is a good Idea. Equality and I have discussed a hurricane evacuation plan many times previously. We discussed the conditions we would leave and the timing.
• I learned that a good plan is always subject to change. We always thought we would evacuate to Victoria or San Antonio. We went to Dayton instead.
• I learned that what is most important is not always what cost most money. We left my computer and some very expencive collectables. Brought Honey ruok's cat and Coco, Equality's and mine. We brought photographs. and a radio. No hi-fidelity electronics. Lots of clothing, lots of food, and lots of water. We left with 2 cars.
• I learned that local Goverments are more important than national or even international polititions. The local people are the ones that determine the day to day things that effect our lives and safety. FEMA didn't give us any guidance, Our County and City goverments provided the leadership. Governer Perry did provide some support, but it was secondary before and after the storm. On the evacuation routes it was local authorities who took action and provided shelter and water to those who were stranded. State and Federal support came afterwards and was much apreciated, but at the beggining and over a very large area it was the locals who were primarily in charge. Most of us - Bloggers in particular debate and pay lots of attention to what happens in Washington DC. Maybe we need to watch and support those who at hame just a little closer.
• I learned the blogosphere has an amazing dynamic, Laurence Simon found my blog and started a chain reaction that caused my blog to get dozens of links, thousands of hits, and tons more attention than it would have normally have received. My blog recieved a new start last month and the search engines aren't as generous to me as they used to be. And I thought an Instalanche was huge.
• I learned how lucky I was. So many folks had it much worse than I had it. One women had her elderly mother at the same hotel us. Her mother was on oxygen generation equipment that had a 15 hour battery supply. She was faced with the choice of staying at the hotel where we would lose our electricity or evacuting on a bus to Austin, no guarentee how long the bus ride would be. ( The local authorities came to her rescue and offered her a shelter with emergency generators) The hotel also had many Katrina evacuees who had no real home to go to after this storm.
• I learned that almost everyone is a pretty good person. All the lines, and doing without, most people were still polite and kept up their good spirits. I heard some storys, but I never saw any meaness or unkind acts.

Maybe as a result of all of this I'm just a little bit smarter. I can use all the help I can get.

posted by Liberty @ 4:27 PM