Katrina leader offers prep advice

As commander of Joint Task Force-Katrina, Army Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honore has firsthand knowledge of how important it is to be prepared for a disaster.

Honore was sent to New Orleans to command the entire military response to Hurricane Katrina, the Category 3 storm that struck in August 2005 and killed more than 1,800 people. Honore arrived within days of the storm's landfall and took charge, quickly defusing tension in the flooded, storm-ravaged city.

Honore, now retired, was at Burke High School on Monday, urging the people of Charleston to be prepared.

"You live in a dangerous place," Honore said at the start of his talk. "Too many of us have accepted the role of being a victim. How many of you have an evacuation plan?"

Of the some 60 people in the room, only one hand was raised.

Then he asked, "How many of you have an evacuation kit?" Nobody's hand went up.

Honore urged everyone to get an evacuation kit, to put cash in the kit along with copies of important papers.

People think they are preparing for disaster by putting important papers in safe deposit boxes at banks, he said. "But what happened to the banks in New Orleans? They were flooded."

And folks might think their insurance company can get a copy of their policy, "But what happens if 10,000 people have the same insurance company and they're all calling at once to get copies?"

Instructions on how to prepare an evacuation kit are available online at the American Red Cross's Web site (www.redcross.org), Honore said. The site also offers pre-assembled evacuation kits for purchase.

Everyone also should have three days worth of food and water and weather radios at their homes, he said.

And generators. He urged his audience to buy generators for their homes and to ask lawmakers to make it mandatory that gas stations, drug stores, nursing homes and grocery stores be equipped with generators before they can be licensed to operate.

Disaster comes in many forms, not just hurricanes, Honore said. Floods, terrorist attacks, chemical or industrial accidents -- any of them could cause disruptions in services.

Honore was speaking at Burke as part of The Citadel's Black History Month program. He was scheduled to speak to cadets today.

Since retiring from the Army, Honore has joined the Red Cross. "That's where I spend most of my energy," he said. "God gave us two hands, one to take care of ourselves and one to help others."

After the talk, Honore, who also has been seen recently as a commentator on CNN, signed copies of his book, "Survival: How a Culture of Preparedness Can Save You and Your Family From Disasters." The 214-page book is filled with lessons from Katrina and practical tips on disaster preparedness for individuals as well as governmental authorities.

If you go

What: Retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore will speak on the importance of understanding cultural diversity as a principled leader, as part of the college's Greater Issues series.

When: 11 a.m. today

Where: The Citadel, McAlister Field House, 171 Moultrie St.

On the Web: generalhonore.com

Reach David W. MacDougall at macdougd@postandcourier.com or 937-5655.