Louisiana’s response to Hurricane Isaac was a far cry from the questionable responses of the past.

Where the state welcomed Katrina with incompetence, seven years it had a plan. Communities from New Orleans to Monroe were prepared for the worst.

The billion-dollar repairs to the levee systems around New Orleans appeared to pay off as the city’s damage during Isaac pales in comparison to Katrina.

Granted the power of category one Isaac was nothing compared to force of category five Katrina, but things certainly could have been worse than they were.

Even in areas where conditions were worse, like Tangipahoa and Plaquemines Parishes, officials were organized to get people out. With around 60,000 people to evacuate in Tangipahoa alone, planning proved essential in this crisis.

Given that Isaac descended on Louisiana nearly seven years to the day of Katrina, the Hawkeye thinks Louisiana learned from its mistakes of the past.

Our citizens heeded the warnings of local and state officials to evacuate. Our emergency personnel risked their lives to save those who did not and to accommodate those in special need after the storm’s wake.

While we in Northeast Louisiana did not experience the kinds of damage our neighbors to the south did, the Hawkeye thinks our leaders and emergency workers in Monroe and ULM deserve special recognition for their steadfast preparedness in the event that the storm was worse.

Hurricanes can be unpredictable. University administrators recognized the danger a hurricane could pose to ULM and made the call to shut down. Though it was not as bad as everyone thought it would be, the Hawkeye is relieved to see ULM achieve its plan.