Heroic Web Hosting: DirectNIC vs. Katrina - Making it Through
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While the situation was certainly grim, it turns out Mike Barnett was trained for it, and ready to cope: "Ok, it's a good thing I went to field sanitation school in the Army (before I was Special Forces). I've had to implement guidelines for water rationing and hygiene. We're gonna be fine," he wrote on August 30. He was also prepared to send some people home because "Surviving the hurricane is one thing. Surviving for one month without water is another." It helps to know the limits and capabilities of those who work under you, and not to push them beyond what they can handle if at all possible.
Importantly, Barnett also took good advantage of the resources that were at his disposal. Starting on the 30th, since he was still online, he began asking questions in his blog to help with some of their more critical issues, such as running the generator in such a way that it would consume as little diesel fuel as possible. He was certainly aware that a lot of people were reading his blog; not once but several times, he thanked them for remembering him in their thoughts and prayers, and being in touch (and they had already offered suggestions for a problem he had faced earlier).
Even in the midst of the chaos, keeping in mind the needs of his people (one of them needed medication) and the generator, Barnett kept his sense of humor: "I can't believe no one has told us they have great news -- they just saved a bunch of money on their car insurance by switching... ;)" Even at the grimmest time, humor can help save your sanity and the sanity of those around you. Barnett also showed his determination to the world, which must have been an inspiration to those he worked with: "I have a lot of people telling us to abandon ship and get out. Guys, that's not gonna happen. I'll eat roaches and drink the funky Quarter sludge in the gutters of Bourbon Street long before I abandon my city. I've got resources and will and so does my team, and we're here until this is over."
Even so, in a situation like this, you need to be prepared for frustration, because "even the most minute tasks can be desperately frustrating." Barnett described in detail what it takes to keep the generator fueled; it is a task where "Every step requires items and equipment that could be missing...Every simple step has a dozen issues that could cause problems." It is the kind of wear and tear that can begin to strain on the spirit.
Next: Holding it Together >>
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