Lessons Learned

As most of you probably know, our area was devastated by an outbreak of tornados last Wednesday resulting in loss of life and many homes. Another result of the storms was a complete power outage which is still going on for some six days later. As far as we know our CDS families are all ok and we will re-open school tomorrow.

During this time of simple survival, there were no lights, just candles or lanterns. There was no TV, no Internet, no cell phones or landlines for many of us. Those who had batteries and radios could hear what was happening, but some of us were in a complete communications blackout. We cooked what we had in the fridge or freezer on our gas grills if we had our propane tanks full. Soon we realized that automobile gas was a real problem to find.I waited in a gas line in Morgan City for two hours on E but made it to the pump to find a $25 limit for cash only.That brought up the next problem....cash. The banks did not open because of lack of power for several days and the credit card equipment would not function as they also depend on electricity to operate. It was a spiral of realizations that we would have to draw upon our own creativity and resources to get by. It was problem solving at the core of our daily existence.

During this time I heard on and off from staff and parents via Facebook messages. They all had a common thread...how blessed they felt to have been spared and how sorry they felt for their neighbors who were not. Also everyone began to notice how much simpler and enjoyable family life can be without our daily distractions. It was of interest to many that the Voyager class had been recently studying a time in history when their survival depended on the same things we were now facing. Their simulations of their colonial villages and families in the country day woods were now happening in their own homes in real time. They were watching their parents problem solve as the challenges kept coming. What a life lesson this provided.

As we begin to recover and rebuild, the lessons learned during this time can be reflected upon and can affect our lives in the future.