WHEN KATRINA BORE DOWN ON NEW ORLEANS, we could not possibly have been prepared. We had no way of coming to grips emotionally with the damage the hurricane would wreak. The storm was too huge, too ferocious. And it came ashore at an incredibly vulnerable location on the Gulf Coast, reigning down carnage and destruction on Biloxi and Gulfport, and of course New Orleans.

We had been forewarned about Katrina. Authorities said New Orleans' levees were designed to withstand only up to Category 3 hurricanes. We were warned that a storm surge of 20 ft or higher could hit Gulfport and Biloxi. We were warned that winds up to 100 mph could bring down trees up to 200 miles inland. But this was head knowledge. Until we actually saw water pouring into New Orleans, until we saw the storm surge wash away homes in Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian, until we saw houses being obliterated by falling trees, we simply weren't capable of absorbing the magnitude of it all.

As a nation, we were simply overwhelmed. We had so many issues to deal with: the shortage of housing and medical assistance, as well as the lack of gas, drinking water and food. And no electricity or phone service. Communications in those first days were a nightmare.

PREPARED FOR ANYTHING

But the power-delivery industry was ready. Although the magnitude of damage was unparalleled, our preparedness plans were already in place. Utilities in affected areas called on their joint-agreement partners to send in crews and supplies. As soon as the worst of the storm had passed, crews fought their way into the devastated areas, clearing away trees so they could rebuild the downed power lines.

The early days were chaotic. Entergy was forced to move its command center to a training facility in Jackson, Mississippi. In Gulfport, Mississippi Power shifted workers from three uninhabitable facilities to a service center that had lost one wall in the storm.

But seemingly overnight, tent cities sprung up in mall parking lots and county fairgrounds. Vendors set up sleeping quarters, cooked hot meals and provided showers. The supply chain kicked into high gear. In just one 24-hour period, 60 transfer trucks were unloaded at the central Gulfport warehouse, with materials repackaged and sent out to crews that same day.

KEEPING PACE WITH MOTHER NATURE

Over a two-week period, I visited the crews who were bringing power back to Entergy, Mississippi Power and Cleco customers. The pace these utilities and their partners were able to maintain as they brought back lines that had been destroyed was nothing short of amazing.

Within a week of Katrina hitting, Entergy had restored almost all its transmission facilities and energized all the transmission substations that weren't underwater. Within two weeks, Mississippi Power had electricity back to the homes and businesses that could receive power.

Cleco's service territory was particularly hard hit. The storm surge actually decimated portions of the city of Slidell. And in Covington, immense pines reigned down on neighborhoods. The distribution lines were in tatters. Operational managers somehow kept their cool as they planned their work and worked their plans.

Out on job sites, the linemen were machines, replacing pole after pole after pole. In one stretch of line, I counted 17 poles in a row that had been taken down by Katrina. I could barely even find the downed poles, because they were buried under the massive pine trees. From all over the country, utility and contractor line crews came to work side by side from dawn to dusk. Local utility personnel who were affected by the storm put aside their personal crises to work the command centers, service centers and staging areas. Suppliers and distributors worked nights and weekends to keep materials flowing to the field.

Many of the crews that worked Katrina went on to Texas to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Rita. Fighting major storms takes its toll. Our crews are weary. Our supply chain is stretched then. Our financial resources are becoming depleted. But we will persevere against anything Mother Nature throws our way. I could not be more proud of all who have given of their time an talents in this difficult time.

Editor's Note: Reports from the field are posted on our Special Report Katrina blog at tdworld.com. Hurricane coverage continues as we post daily Breaking News on our home page and broadcast a weekly newsletter focusing on Katrina and Rita recovery efforts. In the December issue, look for a comprehensive special report that will focus on the industry's response to both hurricanes.