very time a storm gathers in the Atlantic, people here have to kick into high-alert status.

We monitor the news and hope the storm dissipates or at least goes away from us.
If it moves into the Gulf of Mexico, our high alert turns into constant vigilance.
We watch as the storm progresses and decide for ourselves and our families what we will do.
The people who respond to emergencies and coordinate storm preparation for entire communities and parishes, though, have a more-significant task: They have to keep the rest of us safe from whatever Mother Nature has in mind.
Hurricane Isaac was a dark time for many who rode out the storm and watched as wind and water threatened homes and businesses. But the dark time for the rest of us was a time for our local officials and emergency workers to shine.
Unfortunately, the people in the ambulances and police cars throughout Terrebonne and Lafourche had to protect us from Hurricane Isaac and, in too many instances, from ourselves.
Curfews throughout the area were implemented to make sure people stayed indoors and as safe as possible while leaving the streets empty for the emergency workers who might have to risk life and limb at a moment’s notice.
Curfews, though, are only as effective as we are willing to abide by them. So in addition to protecting us from nature’s wrath, police officers and sheriffs’ deputies had the responsibility of enforcing curfews for our own good.
None of that kept them from their important work.
By all accounts, our local emergency workers performed admirably under the most-difficult circumstances.
So did the people at the helm of the entire operation.
Local governments seemed to communicate frequently and effectively with one another and with the people they serve and protect.
The result was a storm response that was free from many of the snafus that have plagued us at times in the past.
A storm that could have strengthened far more perilously ended up being a relatively weak hurricane. But it stayed for far too long and inundated much of the region with wind and rain.
Still, there were few problems and many tales of success.
That is a testament to the hard, brave, thankless work of the many people who keep us safe, day and night, week in and week out.
In times of severe weather, their efforts are particularly evident and appreciated. But it’s just an extension of what happens all the time.
Thank you, and job well done.
