Over these past two months, our community has suffered pain and adversity, but Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister says our story is far from over and he believes that by working together we will come back stronger.
“Yes, it will take time and it won’t be easy. But as Francis of Assisi said, ‘Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible,’” McCollister writes.
The devastating flood did not discriminate. Thousands of our neighbors, relatives, friends and co-workers were impacted—and some lost everything.
“But during these darkest hours, we also saw the light of the human spirit in everyday heroes coming to the rescue, helping friends and strangers,” McCollister notes. “They were Good Samaritans who inspired us all. This spirit of caring is what sets the people of Louisiana apart and makes our state a special place we can all be proud of. And it’s why we will persevere and rebuild—and silence the pessimists and the critics. Helen Keller said, ‘While they were saying among themselves it cannot be done, it was done.’”
We have been through adversity before, McCollister says, and while this may be the greatest challenge we have ever faced, we don’t face it alone.
“We have all seen the tremendous outpouring of love, prayers, support and resources from so many here and across the country. It’s truly amazing and humbling,” he writes. “Churches, foundations, charities, corporations, employers, celebrities, universities, communities and everyday Americans have sent money and supplies—and many sent volunteer teams to our city to lend a hand. How grateful we are to each one of them.”
Now more than ever, McCollister says, we must keep the faith and hold onto one another. “Encourage those who are struggling. Be a friend in time of need. With God’s grace and strength, we will come back strong,” he writes.
There are several cities that have come back from trials and tribulations such as those Baton Rouge has endured in recent months, says McCollister, who points to Nashville and its own “1,000-year flood” in 2010.
The Tennessean daily paper wrote last year of the flood: “Nashville was brought to its knees by a flood the likes of which it had never known. Lives were lost and homes were ruined, but Nashville rose above the tragedy.”
McCollister spoke with Butch Spyridon, who is president and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. and led Baton Rouge’s CVB from 1985 to 1991.
Spyridon says Nashville didn’t get much national attention after its flood, but like Baton Rouge, everyone went to work. Everyone was impacted in some way, he says, and all witnessed “the community coming together like it never had before.” Within six months, Nashville’s hospitality industry was back at 100%, Spyridon says, and since December 2010 they have set record numbers every month for 68 consecutive months. Today there are 28 cranes in the skies of Nashville.
“We all know too well of the floods during Katrina in the homes, businesses and streets of New Orleans,” McCollister writes. “And like Nashville, the Big Easy has written a great comeback story. Tourism is at record levels. Entrepreneurship and new tech startups are everywhere. And there are more restaurants today than before the storm.”
This year, New Orleans was ranked the No. 2 city to visit in North America as part of Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best” annual survey. And it was also included on the The Washington Post’s “10 Best Food Cities in America,” and named the No. 1 “Most Visited Destination Across the Globe” of 2015 by AFAR magazine, as well as one of the “Best Big Cities in the U.S.” by Condé Nast Traveler.
McCollister says “our neighbors down the road have rallied to help the Capital City,” noting the CVB has sent a $50,000 donation to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation; GNO Inc. has joined LABI and BRAC to create a fund for small businesses; and Mayor Mitch Landrieu reactivated a relief fund and many New Orleans charities have also been sending donations and supplies, among other efforts.
“The Capital Region is grateful for all the support and compassion from our neighbors and friends in New Orleans,” McCollister concludes. “Like the Crescent City and Nashville, we plan to create our own comeback story.”
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