Hurricane Katrina was a powerful Category 5 hurricane that hit New Orleans in August 2005. This hurricane led to 1,392 deaths, and damages were estimated to be at $125 billion. It also led to 80% of New Orleans flooded for weeks. Hurricane Milton just recently hit the west coast of Florida, 2 weeks after Hurricane Helene, a Category 4, hit the same part. However, Milton was a major Category 5 hurricane, with winds up to 180 mph, and is known as one of the worst hurricanes to hit in the past few years. When writing this article, 190,000 people are without power, which is better than the peak of 3 million people without power. 27 people have died, and damages are estimated to be at $30 billion. With these hurricanes being similar in their strengths, my parents and my cousins were able to witness both of these hurricanes. My parents witnessed Katrina on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean, while my cousin witnessed Hurricane Milton.
My mother MariAngela Mejia was with her husband (my father) Alvaro Mejia on a cruise ship to celebrate their 1st anniversary together. The cruise ship took off from Galveston, Texas, and on their cruise ship, Mejia explained that she felt “scared and seasick since the water was making the cruise ship rock.” What she remembered most was “…leaving the cruise ship and seeing all the damage in Texas. It was sad to see the houses damaged, streets were flooded, and people were stranded with no help. I think Hurricane Katrina made people take hurricanes more seriously, and it also pulled people closer together. It was devastating to see the damages that were done, but after Katrina took place people started to take more precautions when they heard that a hurricane was coming.” She also continued to explain how people around the world were willing to help with the damages, and that it “…brought people together as one to support a city that needs all the help they can get.”
Unfortunately, that was not her only experience when it comes to hurricanes. She mentioned that Hurricane Irene in 2011 flooded the basement of her NJ house. Her house lost power for a week and that was the hurricane that caused the most damage to her. Mejia has witnessed many scary events, she worked right next to the Twin Towers on 9/11, was in a mall shooting in California, and has been a part of a few hurricanes.
Mejia’s sister, Rossella Mateo lives in Weston, Florida with her husband Wagner Mateo, and their 6-year-old child Enzo. She and her family have been in numerous hurricanes throughout the years. Although she resides inland and not near the coast, she still takes hurricanes seriously and follows all necessary precautions to keep her and her family safe. Mateo evacuated from Florida with her son Enzo and stayed in Wayne, New Jersey for a few days. Her husband was on a business trip on the islands but was safe. Mateo evacuated from Florida because her number 1 concern was “…making sure everyone is safe, including Wagner and Enzo.”
She mentioned that she only took some clothes and a Nintendo Switch for Enzo because everything else in her house is replaceable for her and the family. Her husband Wagner and Enzo are not replaceable, so she wanted to be with them in the safest place possible. Living in Florida for a few years has prepared her for hurricanes. Facing them is normal at this point, and through many experiences, she knows how to prepare for them.
“We start with making sure we have a few things at home that are important, such as batteries for flashlights, groceries especially water in case we can’t get drinkable water, and canned food if there is no electricity. For outside, we bring anything inside that can blow away or break into our windows, if we have shutters on our windows, we close them so no debris can hit the window,” Mateo said. Although she does not live near the waters, she still takes the warnings seriously because one never knows what can happen, especially since hurricanes can be unpredictable. Mateo prioritizes the word prepare, not just when it comes to hurricanes, but in her everyday life since she is an elementary school teacher, and mentions how important it is to prepare for her daily lessons for her students.
Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Katrina are different in their ways. However, they both turned out to be dangerous and serious hurricanes. After listening to Mrs. Mejia and Mrs. Mateo, it is good to see how these individuals look at hurricanes in their ways and share the experiences that they have witnessed in their lives. These hurricanes can affect different people in different ways, and it is a very scary experience. Although these hurricanes are an experience that the people affected will never forget, it is important to recognize their strengths and for everyone to come together to rebuild their communities and support each other in the face of adversity.
