Resiliency is defined by the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and adapt in the face of adversity, trauma and tragedy. What makes a person, a city or a company resilient?

Upon the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, South Louisiana will once again embark on the road to recovery. Hurricane Ida slammed into the coastline of southern Louisiana on Sunday, August 29th as a Category 4 Hurricane, leaving over one million without power and causing major devastation and flooding to the coastal towns located outside of the city’s levee protection system.

16 years to the day, Hurricane Katrina made landfall 45 miles southeast of Louisiana causing widespread destruction and flooding. Most evacuated ahead of the storm and found refuge in various destinations throughout the United States. Planet Beach Franchising resumed operations at a satellite office in Houma, Louisiana and implemented an operating plan that allowed for uninterrupted support to their franchise locations. Fast forward 16 years later, and the New Orleans based company has once again been affected by a catastrophic event causing their employees to be uprooted from their homes and separated from their loved ones. As Tony Robbins states, “repetition is the mother of all skill.” Although the company was pushed to the edge, the survival techniques known all too well and practiced so long ago were once again implemented, allowing the company to connect virtually and provide unwavering service and support to their franchise locations.

Although Hurricane Ida brought with it fierce winds and rains that washed away entire communities, it could not shake the perpetual spirit of Planet Beach and the people of Louisiana. The resiliency of the company, the people and the state will shine through just as it did 16 years ago. We will once again embrace the opportunity to rebuild our homes, communities and our lives. Planet Beach is here to support our Louisiana family and all of those affected by Hurricane Ida. We’ll be back up and running soon enough. That’s what we do. We keep going. We are resilient!

Written By: Jodie Mateu, VP of Special Events & Productivity