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Asset Protection In Light Of Rita.

By Rob Lambert - Email Editor

Date: 29-Sep-2005

Two weeks ago I wrote a newsletter about Asset Protection and Hurricane Katrina, in which I pointed out that you can never depend on the government to protect you. You have to help yourself; at least when it comes to your money. Today, I want to talk about my personal observations about Hurricane Rita and how people responded in Houston.

I spent eight hours in the Houston Airport on September 22nd, the day the hurricane was scheduled to touch land. I arrived in Houston the night before to meet with a client the next morning (as this client says, “God protects fools”). Needless to say, when Hurricane Rita began to close in towards the Texas coast, the meeting was cancelled.

While I sat in the airport hoping my flight out wasn’t cancelled, I witnessed long lines of people patiently waiting at the airline counters and security checkpoints. During the hours that I sat there, not once did I see anyone lose their temper.

There was only one “restaurant” opened at the airport: a Starbuck’s concession stand. I counted 84 people in line with the wait averaging close to two hours. Once again, no one complained.

Those awaiting their flights sat anywhere they could, mostly on the floor. There were large numbers of families with small children. There was a sense of camaraderie among the passengers: Strangers were more than happy to help parents with their children, while others gave up their seats in the waiting lounge to the elderly, and so on.

What really struck me most was the attitude among those who were departing. Most did not expect to have anything physical to come home to. Most expected their homes to be under water. In spite of this, they were very grateful that they were able to buy tickets for a flight out of Houston for themselves and their families. I recall a couple with five children, each with their “special” belongings in a small plastic bag.

Just as special was the flight out of Houston. The man who boarded us announced that he was staying and that he would survive. The airline allowed small children to sit on their parent’s laps throughout the flight, keeping families together. And, once again, I never heard any anger, bitterness or remorse from any of the passengers. What I did hear was how grateful these people were about being able to leave Houston ahead of the hurricane. And, again, most didn’t expect to have a home to come back to.

I want everyone to know that our goal is to protect your money, and this we do with a passion. Sometimes we lose sight of the important and instead we focus on the urgent.

If you lost all of your money and property, you can always start over and acquire it again. I know from personal experience.

We have to remember that we’re given life, health and family just once….and those are the most important assets of all.

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