As we approach the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina at the end of the month — a catastrophe that reshaped New Orleans and stunned our nation — it’s a good moment to reflect on the importance of heeding warnings and properly preparing for threats.

Though Katrina’s devastation played out in the unrelenting surge of floodwaters, here in Maine we face a creeping, quieter natural disaster: the ongoing epidemic of Lyme disease and associated tick-borne illnesses. Both tragedies, so different in their origins and scale, carry a unified message for our communities – one that must not go unheeded.

Before Katrina’s landfall on Aug. 29, 2005, scientists and officials rang alarms: nearly half of New Orleans sat below sea level, and the city’s levee system was long known to be inadequate. The warnings were clear, but years of neglect and missed opportunities to fortify the city left it tragically exposed.

When Katrina hit, over 1,800 lives were lost, and approximately 80% of New Orleans was submerged, marking one of the most costly and painful chapters in American history.

Here in Maine, a very different warning has echoed for decades: the rise of tick-borne diseases, especially Lyme. Since its discovery in Connecticut in the 1970s, Lyme disease has swept through New England, setting new records year after year — including right here in our state.

In 2024, Maine reported its highest number of Lyme cases to date, and the trend shows no sign of slowing in 2025. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease annually. Yet, calls for comprehensive prevention and education too often go unanswered or receive only half-hearted attention.

Katrina’s aftermath revealed the dangerous consequences of underinvestment and denial. Emergency shelters lacked basic supplies, first responders were stretched thin and government agencies struggled to coordinate a response. The most vulnerable, including low-income families, the elderly and those without transportation, suffered most. Even today, two decades later, many New Orleans neighborhoods are still fighting to recover.

The Lyme crisis, though less dramatic day-to-day, exposes similar gaps in our public health response. Too many Mainers are unaware of essential tick-prevention measures and many cases go undiagnosed, or worse yet, misdiagnosed or mistreated, resulting in chronic pain, fatigue or neurological issues.

The medical debate over chronic Lyme and limited research funding only deepen these wounds. The economic cost — lost work, medical bills, diminished productivity — runs to billions of dollars each year. Behind these numbers are real people: our neighbors, friends and loved ones, living with the consequences of delays and inaction.

The true legacy of disasters like Katrina, and of the ongoing Lyme epidemic, is the opportunity they offer to finally do better. The cost of ignoring clear warnings — whether they come as a hurricane forecast or as mounting disease statistics — is measured not just in dollars, but in lives upended and communities forever changed.

For Maine, the lesson could not be clearer: we must invest in prevention, infrastructure, robust scientific research and public awareness. We must ensure that every Mainer knows how to protect themselves and their family from Lyme and associated diseases — and that our public health system is ready to respond with urgency and compassion.

Disasters do not always appear as breaking news. Sometimes, they creep into our lives quietly — like a tick in the grass. But whether sudden or slow, their impact is just as real.

Today’s message stands as a call to action for Maine: let us learn from history, not repeat it. Ignoring early warnings is a luxury Maine simply cannot afford. The time for resolve and proactive investment is now — for the health of our families, safer neighborhoods and the resilience of our communities.