Hotel Owners: How to Protect Over 300+ People During a Hurricane Evacuation

During the Hurricanes Katrina & Rita, I was night manager at a Hotel off the Interstate in East Texas while my parents where day managers, We wasn't hit directly by the Hurricanes but we did get all the evacuees which was 1,000's!

This is the stories on how we prepared for the un-predicable!

Our hotel which only had 32 rooms, Which was small compared to most when the hurricane came thru it was a situation like I never seen before! We was ordered to book every room we could and try to make everyone as comfortable as possible..

Our quite pathways was filled with frantic people worried about loved ones and trying to calm each other down. I couldn't belive we had over 10+ people in each room and other hotels calling to ask if we had more room. The winds where extremely high the day of the hurricane and I was personally on the phone for over 5+ hours getting assistance for all the evacuees.

The biggest thing I can say is STAY CALM, always keep a smile on your face and be as comforting as possible even though a time like that it is extremely hard, Make sure you have a huge supply of water and candles.. I highly recommend the flash lights you shake and they charge due to the extreme dangerous conditions involved 150+ candles lit through out the hotel.

Keep a list of Emergency Numbers including Red Cross, and all the local churches! The churches really do pull together during a emergency! Take Red Cross's word for it, Our owner was upset and didn't want to take evacuees in cause they weren't paying! Which I almost lost my job cause there was no way I would ever turn away victims of the hurricane. So if they say they will pay for all the evacuees believe them.

Keep the guest updated as possible with different assistance being offered in your local area such as food and other help. There was so much help out there make sure you take down phone numbers of people that call and say I got spare room at our place for evacuees cause during a emergency you need to explore all options.

Explore all aspects of safety here is a prime example, Our sign was extremely waving back and forth due to the winds, My family and I was extremely worried about it and even called the fire department, They came outside and said those signs are suppose to bend with the wind it's normal and besides that it has been there for 50+ years!

I called the owner he said we are not evacuating that building! We will loose money! half hour later the sign was still moving way back and fourth, We checked the bolts 4 of them where broke and the sign was moving a lot, I called the fire department again they said if I was worried evacuate the people and take it up with the owner later! I did just that and 15 minutes later our sign crushed through the building making a whole all the way thru!

So if you got that gut instinct do what you got to do regardless if you will loose your job life is more important of a loss.

I think the biggest advice is to stay calm keep your family close and do what feels right! I hope this story has helped you some, I met a lot of great people and where ever they are I hope god is still blessing them. Thanks God Bless