Weathering the Storm

I arrived in Marshall, Texas, just outside of Shreveport, on Saturday, August 28th, 2021. I was alone with a few weeks of clothes, food, water, a computer, and a car. I had no idea how long I would be there, but I prepared to wait out the storm there. I settled into my hotel room surrounded by others who had evacuated from Southern Louisiana. Every room was packed, and the anxiety was high.

I was glued to the television all day waiting for some news, some change or sign that the hurricane would turn and New Orleans would be spared. That did not happen. I woke up Sunday morning and could see that the storm was beginning to hit. According to the forecasters, it was going to be bad, catastrophic in fact. The conditions were ripe for the storm, and it was moving at a slow speed with VERY high winds. It was hard to get a sense of what was happening during the storm. Obviously, there were high winds, water, and debris, but where exactly and to what extent. All day, I watched, anxiety creeping in and out of my chest. What if the home I was renting was destroyed where would I go? What about the school? Were my staff and their families safe?

I stayed up as long as I could but eventually fell asleep and knew that there would be a better sense of the damages when morning came. The following day information began to arrive. My landlord texted and said that our place was fine, but there was no hydro or water. My upper school principal, who had hunkered down with her partner and four children at her sister-in-law's, took a walk over to campus. It was devastated. The campus was surrounded by large trees that had fallen everywhere. Wires were down, and debris was strewn all over campus. The wind had ripped off many of the shingles and trees, punctured roofs, and left them exposed to the elements. There was a great deal of water that had seeped into the buildings. The poolside classroom roof peeled back like a tin can in the pool and all over the yard. The gym roof lifted and folded under itself. Our large pavilion was bowed and unstable. Doors were blown off of the former Children's Center, which made the structure vulnerable to vandalism and full of water. Most of the wooden fence blew down, and the campus was left insecure. It was heartbreaking.

Sarah snapped some photos and sent them to our admin group, and slowly we began to hear from the team. Everyone was safe. Some stayed home or went to relatives in the area with generators to ride out the storm. Others evacuated with pets, parents, and other family members. Over a few days, we learned that we would not have power or water for at least 2 weeks. As our team members began to return to check on their houses to survey the damage, they discovered that some of their places were uninhabitable. Roofs that collapsed, wind and water damage left their homes destroyed. With no access to power or limited generator use, individuals could not begin drying out their homes. With that challenge then came the issue of mold and mildew growth due to moisture and heat. This was the same concern for the campus.

The first job was to ensure that staff was safe and healthy. Our admin team put their personal challenges aside, and we began the process of contacting our staff. Power, internet, and cellphone service had been interrupted, so this was no easy task. We emailed, texted, phoned, used Messenger and Zello. If we could not get a hold of someone, we reached out to close contacts or family members. Within 48 hours, everyone was safe and accounted for. Many staff, like members of the leadership team, had severe damage to their homes. One individual was stranded with a partner that was very ill from Covid and required assistance. We began to reach out to emergency services in our area to get them the help and support they needed.

We were all so relieved that there was no loss of life and that our staff and families were safe. The next few days were a time of high anxiety for everyone as we began to accept some harsh realities. We could not return to our homes for weeks, and our campus needed significant repair. Staff began to make longer-term plans and many had stayed evacuated until power and water could be restored. Everything would be affected: energy, water, food, gas, and transportation. Conditions were bleak, and the severity of the damage created conditions that made staying near impossible.

I knew I could not stay in Marshall, Texas, much longer, but what next? Return to Buffalo, head to Dallas, go back to New Orleans, find another location closer. I had no idea what I should do, where I should go, and how to start picking up the pieces.

I knew that these were defining moments in a leader's career and that I had to make a plan for myself and our school. I was reacting to everything and everyone. I knew that I needed to be in a place with internet, stability, support, and resources, so I went off to the ISP regional office in Dallas.

Follow me as I survey the damage and work with my team to create a plan onward.