In life, it is usually better to be proactive than reactive when dealing with problems. This is especially true when dealing with the reality of an impending hurricane.
There was no better way to celebrate the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall Aug. 29, 2005, than to host Hurricane Isaac.
Who can forget the damage and devastation caused by one of the strongest recorded Atlantic hurricanes?
The thriving city of New Orleans was reduced to a water bowl; response from FEMA and other governmental agencies was delayed.
Who can forget televised scenes of people being rescued from roof tops and dead bodies floating in the water?
No one expected the hurricane to cause as much destruction as it did. New Orleans is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Though less in magnitude than Hurricane Katrina, Gustav, which hit three years later in 2008, had a similar shock effect on Baton Rouge and surrounding areas.
With the memories of these two hurricanes fresh on our minds, Baton Rouge residents sprang into action to prepare for Isaac.
I decided to do some school supply shopping late Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, only to find Walmart packed to capacity. Water, bread, ice, batteries and other hurricane necessities had disappeared from the shelves.
It always puzzles me that out of 25 or so checkout aisles, there are usually about six open at any given time. It was just not the day for my kind of shopping.
That following Monday, the University issued an announcement that school would be closed until Wednesday, and we all knew what needed to be done — party, we thought in unison.
On my way to pick up some party supplies, I witnessed a change in atmosphere around Baton Rouge — the city had the feeling of a zombie apocalypse.
Businesses began boarding up their stores. Gas station lines backed up into the streets.
Chainsaws buzzed as they severed branches from trees, residents relocated flower pots, chairs and any potential projectiles in hurricane-force winds.
University and city police along with ATF employees patrolled the streets.
Interstate 10 westbound resembled the biblical exodus. Students filled the lines of local stores stocking up on ice, liquor, beer and anything but water. There was going to be an abundance of it falling from the sky anyway.
I grabbed a 12-pack as a just-in-case measure.
The city was ready for the approaching hurricane. We would not relive the memories of Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav.
I first saw signs of Isaac on Tuesday afternoon as the hurricane neared Baton Rouge. The once-blue sky turned dark grey with streaks of blue as lightning flashed in the distance.
The hurricane proceeded to do what hurricanes do best: water plants, dispose of houses like Kodak cameras and put man back into his place.
I laughed as famous weatherman Al Roker struggled to keep his ground during a live shoot in New Orleans.
For the next two days, I, like so many other students, confined myself to my bedroom waking occasionally to the sound of rain pummeling the roof and wind howling against the window.
I emerged from my cave Thursday afternoon to see a few tree branches in the yard and friends and family doing fine, for the most part.
Though many areas in the city were flooded and without electricity, Baton Rouge seemed to be spared the worst of the Isaac’s brutality.
According to WAFB approximately four deaths were reported around the region. The Haitian government reported 24 Isaac-related deaths as well as some in the Dominican Republic.
LSU resumed school Friday and football team managed to secure the victory against North Texas on Saturday.
Only thing left to complain about is the loss of Fall Break.
Can I get a “Geaux Tigers?”
