Kurt Knutsson Shares 7 Katrina Survival Lessons 21 Years After 2005 Storm

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 26

Twenty-one years after Hurricane Katrina, Kurt Knutsson recounted being trapped in New Orleans' Ritz-Carlton and said the ordeal reshaped how he prepares for disasters.
Hundreds of extra people overwhelmed the hotel's storm plan as flooding cut off exits, food was rationed, cell service faltered and staff even sought diesel from guests' vehicles to keep generators running.
Knutsson said the biggest lesson was controlling reliable information: he spent nearly 2 days finding GPS coordinates needed for a helicopter rescue and now treats location data as essential.
His updated checklist centers on 7 basics, including saved coordinates, satellite SOS practice, a NOAA weather radio, backup power, waterproof storage, about a week's water and emergency supplies in the car.
The account, tied to Katrina's Aug. 29 anniversary, frames preparedness as building multiple ways to communicate, power devices and adapt when an original escape plan fails.