HWAW Essay Contest Winners

Grand Prize Winner: Region 4

As I laboriously slave over my chemistry homework, I am distressed to hear an awesome roar. Frantic to find the cause of the noise, I fling open my blinds, only to be greeted by the sight of a roof being shorn from its rightful place. After desperately attempting to recall proper tornado etiquette, I snatch my formerly sleeping cat and dive into my closet, splintering the plastic clothes hamper inside in the process. Finally, following a seemingly endless wait, I venture outside my haven. As I exit, I remember that, luckily, both of my parents are at work; at least there they are safe. Inspecting the room, I find it unrecognizable; my personal effects litter the once-gleaming oak floor. One corner of the room lacks the ceiling, the roof peeled back like the tuna can lid. I stare dumbly, only to have my thoughts shattered by an ear-piercing shriek from next door. Reaching my front yard, I realize that the damage to my house is, in fact, relatively minor. However, the adjacent dwelling has been completely leveled, and one across the street has lost an entire wall. I also notice that a utility pole has fallen into the street, severing all communication and power. Another guttural yelp rings out, and I see my struggling neighbor Jessica. Partially trapped under a collapsed roof, she has a huge, bloody gash running along the length of her leg, severe enough for the emergency room. After rushing to her aid, I apply a tourniquet, using a shred of a denim jacket in my front yard, but one problem still loomed large. How would Jessica and others who might be injured reach the medical care they needed? Trees scatter the street, creating passageways too small for any ordinary car to handle. But then I notice something – the Jacksons’ golf cart! Dashing to their house, I locate Mr. Jackson and explain the situation. He agrees to speed those injured to the hospital, so I set out to scout for anyone else in the vicinity that might be harmed. Aided by adrenaline, I circle the block and load those with significant injuries into the cart. Waving a farewell to the impromptu ambulance, I direct my thoughts towards the quandary of shelter. In addition to providing transportation to medical care, my mad run around the block has allowed me a chance to survey the overall damage. Apart from the destruction suffered by those living in my immediate area, another three homes were damaged beyond all hopes of habitation. Assessing the supplies in my house, I see that I have four sleeping bags, numerous blankets, a variety of canned beans, and an entire case of bottled water. Speedily working the figures, I calculate that there likely will be enough supplies for those rendered homeless and me until help arrives. Immensely encouraged by the prospect of assisting my damaged neighborhood, I set out on yet another whirlwind trek, this time to spread hope.

Region 1

The Storm

“Go, Go, Go! Get in the basement the tornado is becoming outrageous.” Yes, these are the last words I heard myself say before our house was completely demolished by the furious swirling winds of the F-5 tornado. After a few minutes of realization, my brother and I began to decipher different ways to find shelter, food, and water. And nonetheless we knew we had to help out our community in some way.

First, the thought of not having a house put my eight-year-old brother and me, being only sixteen, into shock. Daisy, our yellow lab, had also been with us through the whole frightening storm. To protect Daisy we kept her on a leash at all times knowing that the identification chip imbedded in her skin was useless until help arrived. Realizing the power outages and tower damage to the surrounding area, we began our hunt for food and fresh water for all of us.

The memories of the images from television reporting the slow response and crime in New Orleans following hurricane Katrina kept flashing through my head. We were able to locate a source of fresh water and food at the FEMA relief center. Next, we focused on securing a line of defense for protecting what remained. We set a perimeter line consisting of 100 pound fishing line 4 inches and 36 inches off the ground a 100 feet all around us. This was then connected to another string with a variety of tin cans and scrap metal, so when the line was tripped it would make an awful racket hopefully wakening my brother and me and scaring off the looters. Thankfully it was successful. On the second night something did trigger it. We’ll never know what it was because it ran off and never came back.

Third, after finding shelter, food, water, and setting up a line of defense, we set out to help our neighbors and friends in the community. Since all the roads were blocked we both decided walking would be the safest and best thing to do. At the end of a long day we found many families on the trail of recovery. But there was one young couple with an infant child who had been sleeping on pieces of wood. We took them back to our camp, or what was now home, and offered to share our food, shelter, and water. Through all this we became sort of a family. The emotional and physical process of cleaning up began.

In the aftermath of a disastrous storm these are the first three things I would do if my younger brother and I, along with Daisy, were home alone and an F-5 tornado hit: first, find shelter, food, and water; second, set up a line of defense in case of looters; and last but not least, assist people in my community.

Region 2

It shouldn’t have happened. It couldn’t. Not here. Not to us. But yet, it did. Just past midnight, a wave of destruction rolled in, bringing ruin to town. Great winds tore through the area, pulled anything not firmly founded in the ground loose, and slamming it into anything that was. The drumming of rain, crashing of thunder and howling wind was broken only by a crash from above, as something tore into the house. As dawn broke, so did the storm, leaving us free to cautiously walk out of the basement to survey the damage. Greeting us was a gaping hole in the living room wall, and the family sedan laying opposite, looking just as bad as the wall. Around the corner, and into the kitchen, where the largest damage was a branch that had speared the window. A quick look in the pantry assured us that we had enough food to last us for a while, even without the perishables. Water, however, was a more scarce resource. We had 72 16-ouncers stacked by the wall for these situations, but carelessness had led us to take one every now and then, diminishing the numbers to 20. Enough to sustain the two of us for some days, but still not an inviting prospect. Especially not with things being as they were, overconfidence spreading like wildfire through society, resulting in people not taking worst-case scenarios into consideration as they should. I turned the faucet, and had my fear confirmed. Brownish muck was all that came out. Somewhere along the pipes, the weather must have broken through and fouled the waterline. The neighbourhood was in shatters. The Petersons had their old oak blown over in the wind, crashing down and splitting the house in half. The creek running through Wilson’s backyard had flown over, spilling almost all the way out into the street. Others had seen some battering, but were mostly fine. Running over to where the need was greatest, we looked through the wreckage of the Petersons’ home, finding their 18-year old daughter pinned beneath one of the branches of the oak. Lifting the branch while my father pulled her free, it was clear her leg had broken. Finding a couple of straight branches, and tearing up a t-shirt, I bound her ankle, keeping it stable until we could find medical help. While my father helped her onto the couch, I headed over to see what had become of old man Wilson. Though shaken, he was physically fine, and leaning over my shoulder, he came over to our house. I quickly nailed a tarp up for a makeshift wall where a real one had once stood, and a second for insulation. Rounding up the remainder of solitary people in the area, we divided what supplies we had, and that people had brought. We found all the blankets we could, made sure everyone was as warm as could be managed, and settled in for the night to come as daylight faded from view.

Region 3

Operation Williston

This is your mayor Mark Dardy speaking we have just gotten devastating news from the Florida Department Of Homeland Security , who have issued a state of emergency evacuation within different regions of Florida. It is my duty to say we are in one of them regions and have been asked to evacuate immediately within 24 hours. By the way we just received data from our meteorologist Dan Kavon who have prompted us that it’s a category 4 hurricane expecting to pick up speed and expand as it reach closer to land, its now located 50 miles off the coast of Key West. First, As Mayor of Williston I advice all citizens to start boarding up your homes, you can go to Ace Hardware where they would be selling boards at a reduced priced. Next citizens should be getting to the gas station to fuel up for the next few days not knowing how long we will be under evacuation I advice you to full your tank up. Therefore our city workers will be going around to each indivisual home and shutting off all electricity and propane so that no danger will occur while the citizen is away. I’ve also spoken to our local school board superintendent John Graven and have agreed to cancel all schools to a later date. As for food you can go to the supermarket and pick up some nonperishable items if you are one of the citizens that will be staying at your home, but if you’re planning on staying in the shelter food will be provided. I advice all citizens to locate your nearest shelter if you don’t have transportation or can’t locate your nearest shelter please call the American Red Cross at 1 800 Help Now. Finally, I also recommend that you stay at the shelter until otherwise told so to leave. Also for all citizens staying at home please stay tuned to your local radio station on updated conditions. If you have any questions regarding any of the information I just spoke of please feel free to contact the Williston city council at (352)555-5656. As mayor I would like to revise you of our motto “A community of hope, courage, and dignity” please keep that in mind and offer your service to others who may need it. Thanks for tuning and please prepare Williston.

Region 5

I have learned first hand the importance of being prepared in the event of a major hurricane. My family and I experienced the damaging effects of three hurricanes that ripped across our central Florida home in 2004. The cost of not being prepared is much too high; it’s the cost of valuable lives.

The following are the steps I would take in preparing my community in the event of major hurricane. First and foremost I would not wait until 72 hours prior to landfall to implement plans. I would have many plans established well in advance of Hurricane Season. These would include establishing evacuation routes including proper signage, and implementing toll free roads. Prior planning would also have been to institute emergency response teams which are ready and on call. Proper medical supplies as well as adequate food and water would have been stored months prior to the hurricane season.

Three days may seem like a sufficient amount of time to accomplish many task, however when you have witnessed a community rushing to Home Depot and fighting over plywood, and generators you realize advance planning is essential. Communication is the key to successful planning. I would mass produce informational brochures outlining every step of both the pre and post hurricane relief plan. I would distribute this information at every building supply store as well as major retailers such as Wal-mart and Target. I would also communicate with local churches to have Pastors as well as volunteer mission teams ready to assist the community, and I would have these teams meet with the local Red Cross so all efforts would be united.

A major concern would be for the poor and sick. I would appoint a liaison to communicate with hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers and have complete evacuation plans of all patients within 48 hours. I would meet with the Sheriff and execute a mass plan in which all road deputies would cover the entire county assuring that no one is left behind.

I would also use a backup communication plan. If all emergency response personnel are relying on one or two cellular companies and they fail during a major disaster, communication efforts would be impossible. In order to avoid such a disaster I would call upon several cellular phone companies and employ the back up assistance of one or two in the event that the current communication company is ineffective.

Lastly, but probably most importantly I would remain calm and not invoke fear in the hearts of the people of the community. I would be confident in my preplanning and expect that the outcome would be above and beyond what I had hoped for.

Region 6

In the darkness, a light coldness sprinkles my face. Something warm drips down my cheek to my lips. I taste blood, salty and metallic. Pulling myself up as my eyes adjust to the pressing darkness, I see the roof is missing; wood and other bits of debris from the attic lie on the once-cozy family room. Franticly remembering my five-year-old brother, I navigate the roof’s remains and quickly reach his bedroom door. Hearing whimpering and a soft cry, I shove the door open and see my brother tucked into a ball on his bed, our dog cowering next to him. I leap over a tree branch to embrace him, then put him on my back, and grasp my dog’s collar. I grab our raincoats, boots, dog leash, and flashlight from the coat closet before stepping cautiously over debris to reach the front door. I walk onto the driveway and shine my flashlight on my neighbors’ homes. I am shocked to see my house hasn’t received the worst damage. Three doors down, my neighbor not only lost his roof, but only two walls remain standing. Most of the expensive trees lining our street are split in two, lying in fragments on the pavement. My neighbors congregate in the street with flashlights, talking in anxious, traumatized voices. I approach the house of an elderly couple who used to baby-sit me years ago. Not spotting them near their home, I walk into their doorway that once framed their very ornate door. Everything is damp, and the house smells musty. Hearing someone cry for help, I sprint toward the victim’s voice to find a pile of rubbish and wood lying in the kitchen. The elderly woman who once tucked me in at night, is trapped, her lower half buried in the heap of debris as she desperately tries to wiggle out of the splintery hole. Her husband has gone to seek help as he is too weak to extract her. I put my younger brother in a corner and tell him to stay with the dog. Then I try to pick up a particularly large piece of wood, but it’s too heavy. I am still struggling when, finally, her husband shows up with the tall man who lives five doors down from me. Together, save the elderly woman. The old couple embrace each other. Because I am frightened and my brother is extremely shaken, I stay with the loving pair until light shines through glassless windows onto the damp floors. I muster enough courage to return home. I hear sirens in the distance as I step outside and see two figures searching through the scattered branches and architectural bits strewn across my driveway. They shout my name, then my brother’s. I shout back at my parents as we sprint toward each other. We all hug tightly and cry. My parents then promise never to leave my brother and me alone when a tornado warning exists. I am just glad we are uninjured and together.

Region 7

Everyone knew it would be coming. We all knew but not many prepared. Unfortunately, I was home alone when it hit. My mom was working at the hospital. I hid in the bath tub with a mattress over my body. I listened all night to the shrieks and screams of the storm. Eventually, I fell asleep.

I awoke to birds chirping and the sound of dripping water. I sat up and looked around. I was surrounded by four walls, which was a good sign. I found my way outside through debris and broken furniture. It was devastating.

An ambulance rushed by me with sirens blaring as I walked through what was left of my neighborhood. Houses we missing roofs, rooms were missing walls, cars were in trees and families were stranded with blank expressions. An unknown odor lingered in the air. I headed back home.

Once inside, I started gathering everything I would need until my mom returned (or FEMA or the National Guard showed up.) The pantry was still in good shape so I didn’t need to worry about hunger. I found a burner in one of the kitchen cabinets and candles were lying throughout the house. Power was out, so I would have to survive like a caveman. At least I wouldn’t have to kill for my food!

After finding all my supplies, I packed everything into the bathroom. Blankets, a flashlight, batteries and a book were beside the tub. Medical supplies, food, a burner to cook, candles and matches were packed away under the sink. By night fall, I had thought of every possible scenario if someone would break in. I locked both back and front door. I set up a wire trap to trip an intruder. I left some canned goods outside, and locked myself inside the restroom with a baseball bat. I think around 3 am I passed out from exhaustion, but then awoke to a bang coming from the living room. Thankfully, it was just my mother returning home from work. We hugged and she congratulated me on surviving my first hurricane on my own.