Hurricane Katrina taught me how to prepare for any storm

Aug. 29 marks 21 years since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005. I had gone to New Orleans expecting a fun weekend with my parents. Instead, I ended up trapped inside a hotel during one of the most devastating hurricanes in U.S. history.

At the time, I had no idea the experience would change the way I prepare for emergencies for the rest of my life. Katrina remains the costliest hurricane in U.S. history and one of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history.

For me, though, the story began before the flooding.