Amazing! Tom Owen personifies the spirit of Americans! I'm so glad that he could grab those precious pieces of his past. I fear so many families were not so fortunate as Tom and were not able to take their family's treasures with them. It is so very sad that so many will not have them to pass on to future generations. I suppose we will come full circle and be rather like the people centuries ago who had to pass on histories via spoken word.
My hat's off to you, Tom. Have a swig of Bushmills for me!

Here is my supply list (starting with one for the poor). I tried to include things that came in handy when I lived and traveled in a Third World country, and things we learned from our own loss. I also thought of lessons of failed evacuation we have learned from Hurricane Katrina.

For those alone, without means, or without vehicles:
Insurance: Make sure you have a copy of your homeowner’s or rental insurance policy, or at least your insurance card with your representative’s phone number. Insurance will take care of you as quickly as possible. Most lending institutions require homeowner’s insurance, so many of us already have it.

Evacuation Plan: If you have no vehicle, you must contact your local government officials NOW, and ask what evacuation plan they have in place. Where would you meet to be evacuated? Are there buses or transportation out? Is there a shelter? What would you be permitted to bring to a shelter? Do they have a place for pets?
Do you have at least TWO FRIENDS with vehicles that you could count on in an emergency situation? Would they take your pets? Could you cut down on the number of pets that you plan to acquire, if you could not realistically evacuate with them all?

Cash: It may be hard to put back emergency funds, if you are on a limited income, but
you really MUST start socking some cash away. Even if it is only ten or twenty dollars a month…start NOW. Save the bare minimum of $100…much more if possible. Try to have enough to buy yourself a Greyhound bus ticket out, or keep yourself in the very minimum of water and food supplies for at least a week’s time. Many places will not take out-of-state checks, and ATM’s do not function without working phone lines or power. Buy a fanny pack that you can wear and keep safe, and put your cash in there when you must take it with you. Cash is going to help you get away and give you the widest range of choices if you must evacuate your home, so give up one little luxury a month if you can and start saving now.

Communications: You have to know what is going on and how to contact people. If you already have a cell phone, keep that on you. You must have at least an inexpensive battery-operated transistor radio and spare batteries. Two-way radios are also good. (Those who have a vehicle, keep the cell phone charger in your car, for when power goes out.) Have a list of emergency phone numbers on you, and laminate them if possible.

Contact List: What if a disaster hit your entire region? Do you know folks in other cities, other states, even other countries that you could count on for temporary shelter? Swap addresses. Rely on each other for that possibility. Ask them how long they would be able to take you in, in the worst case scenario. Insurance sometimes takes a couple weeks to get moving, so could they house you for at least that long? How about your pets?

Documents: These also go in the fanny pack…you need I.D. VERY IMPORTANT. It is very difficult and takes time to replace SS cards and birth certificates. If it is a true emergency, you had better take the real things along with you, and keep them on your person. That means your driver’s license, your passport, your CC’s, your checkbook, your pet’s vaccination record, your bank card, and that insurance card. Take it from me…I lost all of the above.

Medications: You’ll need your prescriptions, spare glasses, etc…

Clothing Items: You can’t take a lot, so make it count. Take a ball-cap, because you are going to have some real bad hair days. Wear your unglamorous rubber boots or hiking boots/shoes, and take practical jeans and loose T-shirts and sweatshirts, a light jacket, clean BGP’s and socks. If you have lightweight items that dry quickly, all the better.

Basic Hygiene and Sanitation: Pack some personal items, like baby wipes, hand sanitizer, deodorant, tampons, lip balm, toothbrush, toothpaste, disposable razors, bar soap…you get the picture. Take along some large trash bags for clean-up or dirty clothes. You’ll feel a lot better if you are able to feel at least a little clean.

Small, lightweight cooler or lunchbag: If you aren’t able to take jugs of water with you, at least take what bottled water you can carry. Pack some peanut butter sandwiches and high-energy snacks.

Small First-Aid kit and small flashlight w/ batteries.

Favorite Photos and PERSONAL PROTECTION.
We have learned we must arm ourselves against thugs.

Next up…the list grows for vehicle evacuations…LOL

I really hope that someone of authority, or the media would or has taken on to wonder or worry and i am having trouble with the words so I will just say it. What about the sexoffenders and pedophiles.It just detest me to think that this situation was probably a field day for some of them.How many people got hurt,taken into bondage or wwatever it is that they do.

I really hope that someone of authority, or the media would or has taken on to wonder or worry and i am having trouble with the words so I will just say it. What about the sexoffenders and pedophiles.It just detest me to think that this situation was probably a field day for some of them.How many people got hurt,taken into bondage or wwatever it is that they do.

I was born in raised Pass Christain, Ms I lived there tell I was about thirty years old then I move across the bridge too Bay St. Louis in the house my Father was born in he's eighty years old now and I am appalIed that there's not hardly any information given out about these two towns, Pass Christain hasn't let people and it's town for several days I would like too know what is going on over there too because I have family members that was living over there that loss everthing, I don't even know about my Dad's house because the day we could get in we couldn't make it too his street. We are in Alabama now since my house was also damage in the storm. The Bay Bridge is gone as you know now the beach front but you don't here about anything on the radio are TV and when they came with ice and water they went too waveland Kmart and Walmart and most of our cars was ruion by floating under water , why didn't they come in the center of these towns with some of these supplies, this burns me up.

I would have done exactly what Mr. Owen did. As an architect and historic preservationist, I know that when everything is gone -including ourselves- only memories remain. Photographs are tangible and personal remainders of those memories, memories that no one, not even a catastrophic event like Katrina, can take from us. The people of New Orleans, today more than ever, need tangible remainders of who they where and who they are so they can build the new New Orleans...

It is vry fitting that mr owen kept his older ww11 stuff and wedding album but the question is:
humans can send people to the moon costing millions of dollars. usa.canada sends aid to tsanni victims at xmas in one day time and here in flooded katrina it took 5 days.. mr owen should have been recued on the 2 day not the 8 day. THOUSANDS died needlessly these Levies should have been reinforced many yrs ago, not send people to the moon. people on earth and usa comes first in my mind. have a happy day

The word "refugee" is certainly used most often in the context of war or political oppression, but it actually refers to anyone who flees for refuge and is not inappropriate in connection with those fleeing for refuge from Katrina and its aftermath. Those of us living in and around Knoxville, TN, are pleased to welcome several thousand refugees, evacuees (or whatever they wish to be called) to our area and we will do our best to make them feel at home here for as long as they stay.

It's horrible when our own government takes their good old time to send money to the very people who they lead for. What leaders are they?

we need to focus on our own countries problems first. i find this incident embarrasing to our country. the primitive levees were a disgrace. hopefully this disaster will teach a lesson or two to someone.

The one thing that I don't understand is why has this happened? Not the hurricane, but the way our government responded,Or now that I think of it maybe I do understand.
Let's see maye they did not know how to organize a rescue so huge in number because half the military is either dead or still at war across the water.Katrina and all the other hurricanes are bringing a message.They are doing the damage to what is considered to be Bush's United States of America , that he has done to so many military families.Destroying the infastructure of family.
New Orleans is destroyed and my heart goes out to each and every one of them.But it is high time out government gets it together! First the tradgedy that did not have to happen , because our government chose not to listen and prepare.Now this because of the same reasons.I heard a lady on the news in Florida say "why does this keep happening to us , what have we done so bad?" I just wanted to say "it ain't you it is your govenor."You all remember when they rigged up those votes.Every since then down in Florida, what belongs to brother Bush has been getting destroyed, the same that has now happened to big brother Bush.
Sounds harsh , but oh so true!

The discussion Mr. Owen had with the insurance company points out the failure of the system to reach out and support the survivors of this event. There should already be hordes of assessors and field offices from the various insurance companies to provide swift and immediate relief to these people. Instead of waiting for a phone call, the insurance people could be on the ground, performing initial assessments and providing aid to the victims/survivors in accordance with the policy provisions so that funding for those that do not have insurance are covered under FEMA. Designate a lead manager for this problem and get the ball rolling.

Can anyone update us on the status of the Sea Bee Base in Gulfport? How did it fare and are they assisting the citizens of the Mississippi coast?

I am sure, in time, the insurance companies will be on the ground and running. Just like everyone else, they do not have access to the area while it is under water. Sadly, time is the only thing that will ease the suffering. Some things cannot be done right now, regardless of what we want. It is tragic that the Mayor and the Governor, either through inexperience or lack of input, neglected all of these people who remained in New Orleans after being told to leave. The Mayor didn't make them leave nor provide assistance, and the governor didn't activate the Louisiana National Guard. She waited until Wednesday to contact the Federal Government for help. Regardless, assistance is there, help is growing, and everyone will be taken care of. This was an enormous disaster, and to think it could be responded to immediately is idiocy.

Hindsight tells us that we should never take for granet that we can "ride out" a cat. 4 or 5 hurricane. The buses needed to be there before, not after to save those people.

have you been to Ocean Springs? My brother lives there plus his wife and twin sons. They have been in Abbeville,AL but are going back to Ocean Springs today.

As a survivor of the Red River flood of 1997 in Grand Forks, ND, I can truly sympathize. I realize that our natural disaster in know way compares to Hurrican Katrina and it's aftermath, I do have an understanding. I was living in the basement of my childhood home - an adult who moved home to go back to school. I moved things up on cement blocks - piled stuff on top of the pool table. Moved photo's to the uppermost shelf in my closet. We expected about 3 inches in our basement. In actuality we had 7-1/2 feet of water in the basement. I lost virtually everything and the photo's are what I miss the most. I had my childhood photo's upstairs in my childhood bedroom. Unfortunately, the majority of my photo's from college and on were lost. These aren't photo's that my other family members had.

As to insurance - I don't want to go there! My mom asked her agent about getting flood insurance. He - in essence - said to forget about it. The house isn't in the flood plain. Basically if our house floods, the whole town floods. Unfortunately, that is what happened.

We had awesome response from the country to what happened to us.

I truly hope the country shows a good response to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Obviously it was possible for the government to do more to preserve life and limb, and it didn't. There will be lots of discussion about that. What is more important to me, as an American, is whether Americans can achieve a better form of government and way of life for all its citizens. The current system is clearly failing us.

Billions of our tax dollars are spent abroad on issues involving Iraq, Israel, etc. We can endlessly dispute the merits of those expenditures. However, what cannot be disputed is our lack of effective social care of all our citizens.

This is obvious from the poverty and desperation of many of the inhabitants of New Orleans and from the government's lack of concern for their welfare prior to Katrina hitting.

It is time for Americans to consider fundamental changes in our government. We should have a third party. It could be a social democracy like that in Scandinavia. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland all have a social system that ensures healthcare and other basic social services, (inexpensive and professional childcare, subsized housing,) to all its citizens.

As a result, the population generally enjoys a middle class-working class status and they don't have desperate drug addicts, extreme poverty, or violent crimes. They manage this with a lot less money than we have in America.

Regardless of whether one cares to embrace a new system, a party with new ideas would at least challenge and encourage the existing parties to deliver a decent lifestyle to every American.

Let's spend our billions at home! Not in Israel, Palestine, Iraq...... Let's end poverty in America.

There are a lot of things to consider when a disaster such as this occurs. Rescuing the living, recovering the dead, rebuilding the cities and towns are the most important ones, but sometimes precious things such as photographs being destroyed are forgotten. Entire histories of families have been obliterated by this hurricane. Photographs of loved ones and happier times could provide much needed comfort to those who have nothing more than the shirts on their backs.
Tom Owen was one of the lucky ones who got to save his history. God Bless you, Mr. Owen!

I REMEMBER TOM OWEN!!!! Tom Owen dated my best childhood friend's mother in Metairie, Louisiana in about 1975 (or so) until they all moved to Moss Point, Missippi in about 1978. I hope that the Traceys (Laura, Lisa and their mom Elsa) all are okay. I would love to get back in touch with them. Tom, it was nice hearing your story -- all the best to you. (Desiree Fricke)

Part Two -
Additional Items for Vehicle Evacuation:

Extra ammo.
A Swiss Army knife is good for multiple tools. Knife sharpener.

Pet & Supplies: Leash, crate, bowls, pet food.

More Cash: You need to save more cash for gas money. Try to think of enough gas money to get you well across a neighboring state (or two or three states), and to provide basic supplies for your family for a week.

Command Central: If you and your family were to get separated, who would you call
or where would you meet up again? Give each member of the family, especially the kids, a central phone number or two to call.

Blankets or Sleeping Bags. If you have room for a tent or a tarp, add that.

Large towels & some washcloths.

Tools: If you have a pickup, throw in a strap or chain, a chainsaw, spare gas cans, cans of Fix-a-Flat, a jack, jumper cables, basic toolkit… If you have a winch, you’re all set. Have an inflatable raft? Even better. Take a collapsible grill if you have one.

Large Coolers and Cooking Gear: You can always cook at the charcoal grills at rest areas, if you can make it that far. You could wash up there, too, in an emergency, or at truck stops. Take a bag or two of charcoal and some lighter fluid, matches or a lighter. Take one big cooking pot and a big skillet, a can opener, a burger flipper and large fork.
Get ice as soon as you can.

Paper Goods & Misc.: You’ll need TP, paper towels, paper plates, cups, plastic utensils.
A bucket or dishpan to wash and wash things up in. Laundry detergent, dish soap, bar soap, etc… Foil to cook with. Large baggies for storage. Trash bags.

Gallon jugs of water and food. Think things that are easy to grill, or sandwich stuff. Canned goods and camping food. Energy bars and nuts.

Paperback books or paper and pens, playing cards for the kids. The kids can read, draw, and play games, to keep their minds off of things.

This tradegy can not be undone but, I think the response by government officials will forever be a disgrace and a prime example of how well our government has prepared to protect it's citizens in time of crisis. This hurricane did not come unannounced in the middle of the night. I listened as the Mayor and State Officals ranted and raved about the Federal Responsibility. I agree,the Federal
Officals, if they were as prepared as they would have us believe should have done more, faster than they did. But, wait what has all the State Officals been doing to protect their state and cities? This disaster has been in the making for years and they all just sit there. I have to wonder, after watching them and listening to them--just exactly what were their qualifications for the offices they were elected and appointed to hold? Do you think that now someone in that state, might think it more important to elect officials that have the proven ability to carry out the requirements of the office? One who will spend their time in office working for the betterment of the entire community, not just their own interest?? Maybe, even work on funding sources and draft plans to build barriers that will hold back the flood waters? In an ideal world--they would
do this before another tragedy hits!! That would be a much better use of their time than looking for some TV show where they can appear to spout their own agenda of hate and blame and look even more stupid than they do already!!
I continue to hear this disaster referred to as "An Act of God". I have to wonder if He might be trying to get the attention of a nation that has for too long, taken all our blessings for granted.

I evacuated twice last year for the FL hurricanes and I was surprised to find out what was really important to me. First in the car was the personal papers - birth certificate, old letters from my mom to my dad, etc. Then some old family pictures I can't replace. Next in went a couple of pieces of jewelery with memories. Lastly, a week's worth of clothes and my computer (I'm self employed, as long as I have a PC and some power, I have a job). I now keep the papers, pictures and jewerly in a big ziplock in an easy to reach spot, ready to grab if I ever have to leave in a matter of minutes. Every else is stuff and not worth giving my life for. Last year's evacuations changed my outlook on a lot of things in my life, mostly, I like to think, for the better :-)

I loved this story... as a Creative Memories consultant I love to see there are people out there that still care about our past and history. I just wish someone would come out with a water proof/ fire proof way to take care of our valued treasures. I too would have to make sure my family was safe first but the next thing out the door would be all my Creative Memories albums... Pictures and memoribilia are PRICELESS and unreplaceable everything else is replaceable. Memories last a lifetime and beyond. Please check out www.creativememories.com if you would like to start preserving your memories for generations to come.

Wow! Ya know, I teach religious education to 1st graders and I get a lot of questions from the little ones on " why God makes bad things happen ".
They catch me off guard with these simple questions
that require complex answers.....
So here's what I say, " Our faith is tested many times through out our lives. God has a plan for all of us, some may struggle more than others, but He
gave us all the gift of The Holy Spirit to guide us".
I hate to turn everything into such a religious discussion, because I know that not everyone believes.And some who do believe, may even be angry now and may have any faith left. Know that you are all in our prayers.
As far as the political debate goes, I am a Republican and I voted for Bush, but even I can see
that somewhere, something went terribly wrong. I don't know if it was FEMA, State or Local Government, but someone will pay for these mistakes.
I do not believe they were intentional, but these were life and death mistakes.
Good luck to all-

REMEMBERING THIS IS REALITY, WHAT IS BEING DONE WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO SUFFER FROM A DEVISTATING DISEASE OF ADDICTION .I'M SURE ALOT OF THEM WERE IN TREATMENT AND NEED ONGOIG TREATMENT.THERE ARE THOSE TO WHO ARE NOT IN TRREATMENT WHICH MAKES IT SOMEWHAT UNSAFE FOR THE AREA, BEING THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO GET DRUGS ANY WAY THEY CAN. I PRAY THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESS AS TO PROTECT THERS FROM THEIR BEHAVIOR. THOSE WHO WANT ON GOING TREATMENT CAN GET IT . THIS IS NOT A SMALLL ASSUE