As we hungrily absorb each update on Hurricane Isaac’s northward trajectory through the Gulf Coast, hoping that the flooding and damage will be minimal, it’s hard not to reflect our emotions through the prism of other hurricanes and storms that have affected our lives.

Today marks the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, a storm that not only changed fishing communities around the gulf, but horrified our entire country, as we watched the flood waters overwhelm the levies and gaped over the images and stories of people trapped in their waterlogged homes. There was anger at the government and the emergency response, and a sense of hopelessness and helplessness as the destruction seemed to go on and on and the death toll rose.

And one year ago today, Vermonters were just coming to terms with the devastation wrought by Tropical Storm Irene. Yesterday was the actual anniversary of the storm, but it wasn’t until the following morning that the scope of the damage became clear.