Reflections
I spent much of today watching events unfold in New Orleans and along the Gulf coast. What looked bad last night, looks bloody awful in the light of day. The destruction is unbelievable. Millions of lives affected. It’s almost too much to even process in any meaningful way. Thinking that I and other members of the Executive Committee came close to experiencing it first hand is frightening at best.
Thank goodness Charles was so insistent that we leave town. Thank goodness we did. That we made the right decision was brought home to me over and over as I watched events unfold today. We could be there with no potable water, no food, no electricity - and no way out of town short of being evacuated by the military or the National Guard. It was brought home to me again earlier this evening when I saw video of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway with entire sections missing. The causeway was our escape route on Sunday morning.
The Executive Committee were fortunate to get safely back to their homes. Yes, we have homes, unlike the hundreds of thousands of people that don’t have homes any more or won’t have for some time. All members in the area have been affected in some way by this tragedy. If you have information about members, please use the Cafe to pass on what you know. We are concerned and hope to hear they are safe.
On a personal note, I am working out how to return the rental car (the escape vehicle) to New Orleans and have spoken to Northwest Airlines who have been very helpful. I am scheduled to fly home out of New Orleans next Tuesday. In the meantime, I will be staying with Scott in Dallas and making alternate plans as the situation unfolds.
August 30th, 2005 at 9:54 pm
I had a note from John Deveney this morning (11:15 a.m. PST) that he is safe, along with his team at Deveney Communications, who all evacuated.
John has headed through Mississippi and Alabama toward Florida, where he plans to “set up shop” for awhile. I’ve asked him to post here when he has a chance.
He wrote:
“The outpouring of concern, prayers and offers of support have been inspiring.”
My thoughts are with all of you…
August 31st, 2005 at 6:21 am
Warren,
Indeed it is good news that you and the other members of the Executive Committee safely evacuated.
Turning our attention to our IABC colleagues in New Orleans, can we find out if any are homeless and need places to stay? I am happy to offer my guest room/bath to someone for the duration (sorry, no pets).
Wilma
August 31st, 2005 at 12:10 pm
Many people gave generously to my family last year when I was near
death and unable to work for six months. God spared me last year,
and he spared me again on Sunday night. Even though Hurricane
Katrina damaged my home, it is not destroyed.
As a sign of giving back, please forward this offer to anyone you
know. Since presentations at conferences, media training and
crisis communications are what I know best, perhaps I can use my
programs to raise money and give back to those in more need than
I.
If anyone is hosting a conference or training event, I will make
myself available to do a Keynote and a breakout session. The cost
will be $6,000 plus travel and I will give half to a charitable
organization helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the New
Orleans area.
If any organization or IABC, PRSA chapter would like me to host a
full-day workshop on media relations or crisis communications, I
will also give half of everything raised to charity. The cost for
a full-day event will be $5,000 plus travel.
We’ll call this Gerard’s two-for-one disaster relief offer. Please
include those words in your subject line and e-mail. People can
contact me at my temporary e-mail address of gbraud@spamarrest.com
(My website http://www.braudcommunications.com is currently underwater on
a server across the street from the Superdome.)
Since my website is down, people can contact me for a PDF with all
of my media relations and crisis communications programs.
Please share this with bloggers and fellow communicators.
Gerard Braud (Jared Bro)
985-624-9976 (temporarily not working)
August 31st, 2005 at 12:26 pm
Warren:
The IABC Southern Region (which includes the New Orleans chapter as well other chapters potentially affected by this disaster) is ready to help.
Two of our IABC Southern Region leaders — Lisa Owens, VP Growth and Development, and Joy Powell, Chapter Services Director for New Orleans –are working on our response plan and tying back to other efforts we hope are in play at International.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all.
Thanks,
Dan Alldredge
IABC Southern Region Co-Chair
August 31st, 2005 at 5:10 pm
Warren, why not look though the IABC membership directory for someone who works for the car rental company, and phone this person and explain you have rescued a car from New Orleans, and taken it safely away from the flood waters.
So they’ve got a $20,000 asset that is not up to its roofline in mud, but will be safely at some airport drop off in Texas.
All thanks to you and Julie.
You might want to rebook your flight from somewhere else, too. Or at least check with the officials of the governments of various US jurisdictions, to make sure you will be allowed to drive anywhere near the New Orleans airport.
It’s fascnating how professional communications was used before, during and after the storm.
Dead bodies all over the place, …
A story I thought was sharp today came from Home Depot, where they are alrady loading trucks to take the most important rebuilding materials toward the Gulf, getting permission to drive on the restricted roads.
But it does raise the problem of restricted traffic flow.
But if you do drive back to New Orleans, be sure to detour through my little Texas city, Kilgore. Apparently the barbecue there is among the best in the south.
BAK
August 31st, 2005 at 8:26 pm
Hi Brian. Good advice except it was a very small local only car rental company that went out of its way to provide transportation to people trying to get out of town. I spoke to the owner yesterday and he is currently storm-stayed in Jackson, Mississippi. I all likelihood his home and business are both destroyed. It is now clear that New Orleans will not be “open” for some time to come and that the airport will only be doing emergency and relief flights for the next couple of months. As a result, I will be making alternate travel plans. The most likely scenario would have me driving the car to Jackson (back to its owner) and then flying out of Jackson or Memphis.
In the grand scheme of things, my problems are minor. In fact, they are not problems at all. There are hundreds of thousands of people tonight that have no home, few possessions and no way to make a living. I am staying with friends in a city that still has food, potable water, power and telecommunications systems that work - and I have a home and family waiting for me when I do catch a flight. I don’t think I’ll spend much time worrying about getting the car thing worked out.
September 1st, 2005 at 2:51 am
We’re witnessing something that’s an order of magnitude greater than any crisis plan could have anticipated. Whether it’s managing the communication or the overall response effort, the ultimate challenge will be the ability to adapt and find the most effective ways to respond.
We should take our lead from those who are closest to the crisis and who can best identify what kinds of assistance they’ll need in the coming days and weeks.
It’s easy (but seldom helpful) to try to second-guess what people should do in situations like this. Instead, for those of us outside the affected areas, the most constructive thing we can do is to donate to relief agencies now and stand ready to respond in other ways that may only become apparent as the recovery effort unfolds.
But there may also be a special role for those of us in the communications profession.
Nothing is as amazing as the indomitable human spirit. I have no doubt that, over time, we’ll witness incredible stories of people’s resilience and determination to rebuild not just their homes, but their lives. Out of the sadness and horror will undoubtedly emerge great courage and inspiration. We should be prepared to not only support them, but to chronicle their stories.
In the meantime, I too am happy to offer my guest room to a colleague who may need it for the duration. Pennsylvania may be a long distance from the Gulf coast — but right now, that may be a good thing.
To those of you affected, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
September 1st, 2005 at 5:36 am
Gerard Braud sets a wonderful example for all of us to follow. He has inspired me to take an even harder look at what I can do to help people who are suffering through this ordeal.
It’s another excellent use of this blog — to share best practices, if you will, that might just lead others to take similar actions.
And since the need for relief, especially in the form of money, will continue for many years after the initial clean-up, it’s never too late to take such actions.
God bless you, Gerard. I’ve forwarded your offer to some people and I hope they take you up on your generous offer.
September 1st, 2005 at 4:43 pm
I am happy to know that Charles Pizzo, John Deveney and crew and Gerard Braud are safe. Here in Houston the city has opened its arms to the refugees and I would like to do my part to offer safe harbor to a displaced IABC member’s family. I have a couple of extra bedrooms and a wireless Internet network — everything a communicator needs. Dan, please pass this along to your contacts in the New Orleans chapter. I can be reached at 281-497-7766.
Also add my name to those willing to do a “benefit” presentation with all proceeds going to a relief fund.
September 2nd, 2005 at 6:19 am
At my count, we have 47 members in New Orleans and Mississippi. FYI…. That may help if IABC/PRSA make requests to corporations. It’s not a huge number, which may help facilitate giving.
September 5th, 2005 at 4:40 am
[...] e spotted so far: IABC Cafe from the International Association of Business Communicators. From Warren Bickford, the Chairman of the Board: I spent much of today watching eve [...]
September 5th, 2005 at 8:06 am
Please know our thoughts and prayers continue every day for those who have had family and friends directly or indirectly affected by this immense and horrific catastrophe. We are ever grateful for all who are safe and set to courageously begin a journey of rebuilding lives.
We are linked worldwide in a plea that all are healthy and safe as each new day begins.