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The
Hard Ache for our Friends along the South Coast
The
1 September 2005 edition of the Zeitgeist e-Zine
It’s
the annual return to school here in North America. In the States that
understand the needs of their tourism industries and their citizens
that desperately need time to vacation as a family unit, school should
be getting underway in the next few days. For those States that don’t,
you’re already back. And, when you have an over-achieving daughter
in an advanced English class that gives out homework over the summer...it’s
like we never left.
Last night, I was proofing a paper she wrote in which she used the word
“hardache.” I chuckled momentarily...and then put down my
pen. She clearly had meant “heartache,” but her new word
resonated off the page. And I instantly thought of my friends along
SouthCoastUSA.
And, all of a sudden, my youngest daughter’s new word gave expression
to what I have been feeling since Katrina’s landfall.
We don’t just ache. And, it’s not a heartache. It is, indeed,
a hard ache. One of the hardest aches we’ve ever felt. With no
less respect for this nation’s loss on 9/11...we have just lost
(if for but a time) an American icon in the City
of New Orleans. Destinations like Biloxi
and Gulfport that were just last week celebrating the stunning
rebirth of their communities. The parishes of Louisiana that may not
have been top-line destinations...but they were home to thousands of
good people. People like you and me. We’ve lost entire communities
in the blink of an eye.
It’s a hard ache we feel as we helplessly watch the coverage unfold.
I ache for New Orleans CVB CEO Stephen Perry as I read his chilling
updates on his Bureau’s website. He and his staff are almost completely
cut-off from the world...and from each other. Thanks to the foresight
of hosting the Bureau website in California (where there are precious
few hurricanes), Stephen has been able to communicate through that site,
creatively using a personal Yahoo e-mail account. His post last night
elicited a hard ache:
"To our knowledge, all CVB personnel are safe. Virtually all were
asked to evacuate and relocate. Those few who remained cannot be contacted
or reached for the most part, but are assumed safe. Only those who evacuated
are able to work with you at some level at this time. It is estimated
that more than 90% of the CVB staff will have sustained major home damage
or outright loss of their homes.
Longtime CVB Vice President Nikki Nicholson, who retired 18 months ago
to buy a bed and breakfast in Bay St. Louis Mississippi has barely survived.
Nikki attempted to stay and ride out the storm in her b&b, but the
storm destroyed her home around her and she and her dog survived clinging
to a tree until rescued.
I have continued to write updates to the website as I have gained
spotty windows of internet access and will continue to do so as able.
We apologize for any inadequacies of information and are doing our best
to maintain communication with all emergency preparedness entities and
with all travelers, meeting planners, and tour operators. Please work
with our regional offices in the meantime. Thank you all for your thoughts
and prayers. I am sorry we cannot speak personally to each of you who
have important questions at this time."
And then, this:
"CVB staff members are unable to communicate with or reach
each other even though they have been dispersed to different locations because
all are using area code 504 cell phones which are non-functional due
to loss of the networks.
Any CVB executive team member who evacuated and is in a secure location,
please email Mr. Perry (at his Yahoo account). Please include your location
and a landline number and your status and safety update."
I don't know about you, but the thought of not knowing how or where
your staff is in a time like this makes me ache even harder for Stephen
as he valiantly tries to lead his destination through this catastrophe.
As we wish
all our friends along the SouthCoast a speedy return to basic services
and a sense of normalcy...a thought for the rest of us: Are you prepared
for a crisis of this magnitude? Creating redundant web hosts in other
areas of the country is a start (as the Alabama
Gulf Coast’s Mike Foster suggested on a DMOU
Teleseminar on Crisis Planning). But, what about your communication
plan with members of your staff? Should we look to having mobile phone
numbers outside our local exchange (after all, long distance is free
these days)?
As we ache hard...we need to take notes to better prepare us all for
future catastrophes. And then, we need to get out our check books. We’re
real good about sending hundreds of millions of dollars to victims of
the Tsunami. We need to be even better about helping our own...
You can
make a donation to the American
Red Cross or by calling 1-800-HELP NOW.
Bill
Wanna
comment on this or other topics. E-mail
Me!
Bil
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