Kay Wilkins moved and inspired PICA with her recollections of the days before and after Hurricane Katrina. Today's recap comes from PICA Chairman, Patrick Faherty.
After already preparing 24 shelters in anticipation of Hurricane Katrina’s approach, Southeastern Louisiana Red Cross CEO Kay Wilkins was asked to open a 25th shelter. Almost alone by this point at headquarters, she turned to one of the few people left and asked if he could run the shelter. The building custodian to whom she spoke simply replied, “I don’t know how to run a shelter.” Kay smiled, told him that he was needed and that people were depending on them, so he agreed. She gave him one piece of advice: “Remember that you are the Red Cross – just make decisions to do the right thing.”
Most of us cannot even fathom dealing with a disaster on the scale of Katrina, but Kay Wilkins lived it six years ago and continues to lead the same Red Cross chapter today. At the time of the PICA Workshop, Kay was coordinating possible relief efforts due to flooding of the Mississippi River and the opening of spillways, which while protecting larger cities such as Baton Rouge and New Orleans from the water’s fury, left some smaller communities susceptible to its wrath.
After already preparing 24 shelters in anticipation of Hurricane Katrina’s approach, Southeastern Louisiana Red Cross CEO Kay Wilkins was asked to open a 25th shelter. Almost alone by this point at headquarters, she turned to one of the few people left and asked if he could run the shelter. The building custodian to whom she spoke simply replied, “I don’t know how to run a shelter.” Kay smiled, told him that he was needed and that people were depending on them, so he agreed. She gave him one piece of advice: “Remember that you are the Red Cross – just make decisions to do the right thing.”
Most of us cannot even fathom dealing with a disaster on the scale of Katrina, but Kay Wilkins lived it six years ago and continues to lead the same Red Cross chapter today. At the time of the PICA Workshop, Kay was coordinating possible relief efforts due to flooding of the Mississippi River and the opening of spillways, which while protecting larger cities such as Baton Rouge and New Orleans from the water’s fury, left some smaller communities susceptible to its wrath.
“What people don’t see is the preparation that takes place for something we hope we won’t even need,” she said. “Right now, I have 3,000 cots stored and ready to be shipped to a shelter should we need them if flooding occurs.”Going back almost six years to that terrible time in 2005, here’s what the Red Cross provided before, during and after the storm:
• 140,000 cots
• 150,000 comfort kits
• 427,000 clean up kits
• Up to a million meals per day
• “Neighbor-to-Neighbor” program to help residents deal with the stress
• “Safe and Well” website to help family and friends check on loved ones
While this is remarkable work in the best of circumstances, it’s even more impressive when you realize that Kay and 80 percent of her staff also lost their homes during Katrina – yet they persevered.
Oh, and the 25 shelters they opened? Guess which one had the best accommodations?
Yes, the one operated by the custodian. After the storm passed through, there was no electricity throughout the region for days. So the custodian found out who owned the local grocery store, found the gentleman and convinced him to donate all the perishable food – meat, dairy, etc. – to the shelter residents since it would’ve spoiled otherwise. And while other residents in other shelters were grateful for their “Meals Ready to Eat,” the custodian and his charges were enjoying barbecued ribs, burgers and other hot food.
Thanks, Kay, for sharing your story with us and for everyone in the Red Cross for the support you provide all around the country to people in their time of need!
