Hurricane Katrina Pictures Of Me Doing First Responder Work

I used to volunteer for Red Cross and was employed by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) as a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) instructor.

Back when the country was hit by Hurricane Katrina I was deployed to Baton Rouge Louisiana. I arrived 30 minutes after the hurricane made land fall. I stayed for two weeks traveling around assessing the destruction and collecting data so other people would know where the most help was needed. It doesn't make sense to set up emergency services in a danger zone. It also doesn't make sense to set up a shelter where only a handful of people are only to transport thousands there when you can setup a shelter where the thousands are and only transport a handful. So my job was very important for analyzing the situation to better determine the best and fastest way to deliver help in my assigned area. I was part of a much bigger team and together we got help in as fast as we could.

I saw lots of amazing things. I saw no racial violence and instead saw everyone helping each other. Race didn't seem to matter. I saw rich and poor working together. I did not see gangs roaming and shooting up the place. Nor did I see any of the crazy stuff the news seemed to be reporting. I wish the news showed more of the good things going on there.

So here are the pictures I took that I can show without breaking any rules: