Speaker, author, CEO, SandraPhillipsPresents.com

The excruciating pain of preparing for, watching, and listening to the stories of Katrina survivors who lived in and loved the city of New Orleans, does not compare to the sorrow, the hurt and the longing the survivors feel. They come among us with their distinctive accents and ways, attitudes and gratitude and they love us and are grateful to us.

I am continuously awed by their resilience and their faith that the city of New Orleans will rise through this devastation and emerge as one of the greatest cities in this country. The survivors ask only one thing: that we not lump them in with, nor categorize them as being a part of the criminal element so widely publicized by the media. It’s bad enough to be devastated by Mother Nature and survive.

Just because it had to be done, our church opened its heart and set up a shelter which ultimately housed 61 evacuees, representing about 45 different families, some with children, some single individuals. When the evacuees arrived by bus early one morning before daybreak, we noticed that some were still in wet clothes and shoes. The most present and immediate need for blankets, dry clothing, food and water was instantly met by our volunteers.

Over the next few days, as I began to listen to “the stories,” my role became clear. Among other things, I would devote my time and talent to finding and connecting these families with other family members that had been separated from them in all of the chaos and confusion: separated by pushing and shoving to “get on the bus;” separated by heads of households who sent family members on to supposedly safer locations; separated by helicopters, boats and National Guard trucks that spirited family members to God knows where. All of our evacuee guests ended up at some location in Baton Rouge, where they were picked up by a bus that brought them to our location.

Using all the resources offered by the Red Cross and CNN.com and with a little detective work, we began to identify and locate “lost” family members. There are few things in life for me more euphoric than knowing that I have made a difference in someone’s life by connecting family members who showed up in various parts of this Diaspora, worried over the whereabouts of family members.

This experience has reaffirmed my faith in the family as a thriving institution. Yet, there are many lessons one can carry away from such an experience:

1. Family matters! It is amazingly important how much we long to be connected to family in times like these, regardless of past tensions. Bottom line, go to your next family reunion. If there’s not one planned, start planning.
2. Do you remember where you were on 9/11? Did you know how to contact your family members on that day? Of course you did, or else you were frantic with fear. You did not rest until you knew where everyone was. Imagine two weeks or more having no knowledge of where your wife or husband or sister or brother or children are. For heaven’s sake, create and distribute a family disaster and evacuation plan:
1. Be sure that all family members know the REAL NAMES of all family members, not just nicknames. This is especially true for children. One of the families we were able to match could only identify a missing member when he offhandedly mentioned that they might know him by his family nickname. Once we mentioned the nickname, there was instant recognition.
2. Create a family directory with all the important phone numbers, addresses or last known whereabouts of family members.
3. Identify caretakers for elderly members of the family. Include important information about mobility, medications and other requirements.
4. Important family papers, including backup disk drives from computers should be kept in a secure fireproof and waterproof safe at home.
3. Take the American Red Cross volunteer training course. Not only will you be equipped to help in emergencies, but you will also gain insights about tools and resources that can aid in disaster relief efforts

And finally, remember that blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

In light of this national tragedy, one of my personal role models, Nadine Thompson, CEO of Warm Spirit, reminds us that “to love is to not take for granted our family members; to treat our neighbors with love and kindness and to save for a rainy day.”

Much love.

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Sandra Phillips, MA, CSC, is a workshop leader, specializing in Wellness in the Workplace and helping hundreds of people increase passion, productivity and profitability through self-care.

An author and motivational speaker, Sandra also conducts Life, Love and Chocolate B.A.L.A.N.C.E. workshops for women. Her book, Getting Things Done: Successful Women Speak  inspires women to take on all of life’s challenges with gusto, and is available directly from her at www.sandraphillipspresents.com.

Sandra Phillips