Frank Deaver Peace Editorials

     One year ago, the world watched in horror as Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, slammed the Gulf Coast of the United States.  Its destruction was compounded by broken levees that failed to protect New Orleans, the only American city below sea level.

     What followed was a year of complaints and criticism about inadequate and inefficient response by government agencies, insurance companies, and relief organizations.  Less recognized, however, was that Rotary offered rapid and reliable relief, and without waste or overhead expense.

     Even as the storm approached, and before its full fury could be anticipated, Rotary sprang into action with preparations for meeting predictable needs. District Governors Stuart Vance (6820) and Neil Alford (6840), whose clubs were in the anticipated path of the storm, began collecting funds to assist Rotarians and others when power would be lost and banks and ATMs closed.

     As nature’s unleashed fury created far greater need, Rotary created greater response.  Vance and Alford set up a two-district Rotary Katrina Fund, receiving Rotary donations in excess of $968,000.  Earliest emergency disbursements were for food, gas, medicines, and other critical needs.  As relief turned to recovery, building materials became a major expenditure.

     The fund had no expenses.  One hundred percent of donations were channeled to recipients.

     Rotary zones 29 and 30, including all districts suffering Katrina damage, established a donor advised fund within The Rotary Foundation, facilitating contributions from Rotarians beyond the two suffering districts.      With spreading news of the storm and resulting floods, Rotarians from across the country and around the world joined in one of the largest, most immediate, and most efficient of all of the relief efforts. 

     As evacuees poured into inland cities, local Rotarians were prominent among those offering shelter and food.  Even the little ones were not overlooked.  A Rotary Club in California had been collecting soft toys for distribution to traumatized children, and they offered several boxes of them for kids in hurricane evacuation centers.  Rotarians in central Alabama took pleasure in delivering the cuddly little stuffed animals to children of dislocated families.

     A Google search on “Hurricane Katrina and Rotary” yielded more than 200,000 websites.  Many, of course, were irrelevant or duplicate, but the number of sites indicated evidence of worldwide district and club involvement in assistance.  Generous donations flowed in from Rotarians on all continents.  Bangladesh, often ravished by monsoons, and one of the world's poorest countries, offered funds to help in the rebuilding efforts.

     And why is all this being summarized on the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.  A simple four-word answer: Rotarians care; Rotarians share.