Displaced but not discouraged: Resident s brother plans to return, rebuild after storm
Staff reporter
Residents knew a hurricane was coming. In the past, hurricanes always seemed to miss the New Orleans, La., area.
David Learned, a medical doctor from Lakeview, a suburb of New Orleans, is staying with his sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Larry Creamer of Florence until he is able to return to the flooded area.
"I saw a picture of houses about a block from my neighborhood and all you can see are the roofs," said Learned. About 25 feet of water poured into his neighborhood. He knows he's lost everything.
He was called Aug. 28, a day before Hurricane Katrina hit the southern states, to Kenner Regional Medical Center in Kenner, La.
"I took one change of clothing and my doctor's kit," said Learned. He thought he would be home in a day or two. Little did he and thousands of other people realize this was going to be a life-changing event.
Learned arrived at the medical center at noon. The storm hit early Monday morning and electrical power went off shortly after. An auxiliary generator was used.
At 8 a.m. Monday, he was told a levee had broken a mile from his home. The Lakeview community was underwater within an hour. He knew then his house probably was gone.
"I want to set the record straight," Learned said. "In my opinion, we were not deserted by the government. The government did a pretty good job once they could get in."
Twenty-five feet of water had flooded some areas, making it impossible for rescuers to drive vehicles in the area.
By Monday afternoon, the medical center had a couple of ambulances available for evacuating patients.
It was a hectic three to four days for Learned and other medical professionals.
All 140 patients were evacuated by Wednesday afternoon, said Learned.
The hurricane hit east of the New Orleans area. Learned said there was horizontal wind and rain at the Kenner hospital. Damages were reported to an awning at the hospital's emergency room entrance, trees blown over, damage to vehicles, and flooding in areas around the hospital.
"I knew help was coming but we didn't have any communications," said Learned. Land phones were of no use and eventually cell phones failed as well.
The only way to communicate was through e-mail.
"Amazingly enough, the hospital's computers still worked," Learned said. He e-mailed his sister Judy and other family members to let them know he was all right.
Family members contacted Creamer and told her to check her e-mail.
"I'm really bad about checking my e-mail," Creamer said with a smile.
It was a terrifying time for Creamer and her family because not only were they worried about Learned but Creamer's son is stationed with the U.S. Navy at Gulfport, Miss., another area that was damaged by the storm.
"It was such a relief to know everyone was OK," said Creamer.
Learned said he was relieved of his duties at the medical center that following Thursday because he had a way to get out of town.
"By Thursday morning, there were nine of us who remained at the hospital," Learned said. He was asked by a supervisor if he had a car. He said "yes." He then was asked if the car was damaged. He said "no."
"The supervisor said 'You're fired. Get out of here'," said Learned. "So I got in my car and headed to Kansas."
He spent Thursday night at Dallas and arrived Friday evening at Florence.
Learned received some good news after he arrived to Kansas. His neighbors who had stayed to ride out the storm were OK. He also was able to contact his three employees at his office who also were safe.
His doctor's office in Kenner had 10 inches of water but his landlord already had begun making repairs.
Residents in hurricane-prone areas are encouraged to pack a hurricane kit. Learned had one but unfortunately did not take it with him when he left his home.
Luckily, Learned had retrieved his diplomas from the walls of his doctor's office in case he needed them for identification. He also had retrieved a computer server and backed up a patient ledger on disks. He is confident he soon will be able to open his medical office.
Learned also is one of the lucky ones who had flood insurance. Many home owners in the area did not carry it and some did not realize it wasn't included in their general household insurance policy.
Ironically, Learned could have been one of them.
Learned was contacted in May by his mortgage company that he did not have flood insurance. Somehow it had been dropped from his policy without his knowledge.
The insurance was renewed June 2, but didn't become effective until July 2, less than two months before the storm destroyed his home.
He also has been able to activate his personal bank accounts through debit cards and ATM machines.
Learned does not believe there will be as serious of an outbreak of disease as some officials are predicting.
"There may be more West Nile disease," Learned said. People will suffer from diarrhea and skin infections, and may contract Hepatitis A and tetanus from the water and other maladies.
Learned also said that most of the 45 bodies found at Charity Hospital in New Orleans probably had succumbed before the storm even hit and after the storm because of electrical issues. However, he did not understand why a nursing home in the area did not evacuate when it had the chance.
No stranger to the heartland, Learned was born in Wellington and attended school in Douglass. He graduated from Belle Plaine High School. He also graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, was in the service, and had lived in the south for 20 years.
Trying to keep busy until he is able to return home, Learned planned to attend a medical school reunion Friday and will go on the road with brother-in-law Larry next week. He hopes to return to the New Orleans area by Oct. 1.
"I'm going to go back and rebuild," said Learned, "but probably on higher ground."
