Kay Bailey Hutchison: “over the weekend, I visited several hurricane relief shelters around the State of Texas. Hearing the stories from the…”

“over the weekend, I visited several hurricane relief shelters around the State of Texas. Hearing the stories from the victims of Katrina firsthand has reminded me that whenever natural disasters occur, we must help those affected recover and move on with their lives. But this is no easy task, and the impact of Katrina will be felt for many years to come. I know this personally. Growing up in Galveston County, I lived through Carla in 1961 and other hurricanes. I have never forgotten the experience of driving to my parents' house because we had not heard from them. Telephone service was out, so we packed our car with water and other supplies and drove to their home. As we approached, we saw more and more of the hurricane's destruction. Finally, we reached their battered house, and fortunately found them unharmed. Dealing with disasters has made Texans both strong and compassionate. Whenever people encounter adversity, they are forced to make a decision about how to respond. So often, Texans have stood tall, displaying virtue in the heat of the moment. When battered by a hurricane, Texans have increased their resolve, battling the elements to survive. When threatened by funnel clouds, they have reacted with bravery and risked their lives to save the lives of others. And after the moment of danger has passed, they have showed kindness and generosity in helping neighbors get back on their feet.…”