In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the southern United States, forever changing countless lives. My high school swim coach, a passionate leader and Louisiana native, had long understood the looming threat. From day zero, our team mobilized—raising awareness at school, collecting donations, and organizing fundraisers. (Even now, my non-athlete friends recall the passion behind our advocacy.) Sleepless nights turned into truckloads of supplies delivered across state lines in the days that followed.

The impact became personal one morning in my Desktop Publishing class. A survivor my age arrived at school with only the clothes on her back and a donated backpack with school supplies. She sat next to me, her presence more fragile than real. It was nothing like the collective shock of September 11, 2001—this felt closer, more intimate. Like those who lived in the northeast during that time, this was home.

Years later, a tornado hit Van, Texas, and hurricanes like Harvey, Helene, and Milton reignited the urgency of emergency preparedness. I never thought I'd hear a storm compared to Katrina, yet these disasters reminded me how vital preparation is.

Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to training in emergency preparedness, mental health first aid, and crisis stress management. I meet people in our community who have lost everything. When other states call for help, I answer. Natural disasters may be infrequent, but smaller crises—house fires, floods, even the loss of a loved one—happen daily.

Are you prepared for when disaster strikes?