Robert Beauregard

Robert Beauregard held the position of Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Deputy in Alexandria, Louisiana, for twenty-eight years at the time of this interview. Beauregard recounts his police training for natural disasters, including hurricanes and tropical storms. During Hurricane Katrina, as an interagency task force, Beauregard’s sheriff’s office traveled north of New Orleans to help anyone affected by significant flooding in the area.

While the primary job entailed search and rescue, Katrina also brought about many looters and gun violence, those taking advantage of the distress. After witnessing such a horrible event, Beauregard talks about how law enforcement agencies began recommending therapy for such events.  Although Katrina prepared Beauregard for future storms, it made him more nervous when news began to break regarding Hurricane Harvey. Since Beauregard had family in Houston, his personal worry motivated him and his brother to take a lifted truck, with a boat attached, to rescue his daughter and brother-in-law in Meyerland. Beauregard recalls the flooded highways and how he compared Harvey to Katrina – with Harvey, there was less flooding and looting and more community support. Beauregard acknowledges Houston Strong in his memory of Houstonians support and help for one another during Harvey. After rescuing his daughter and brother-in-law, Beauregard had an easier time traveling from Houston back to Louisiana. At the end of his interview, Beauregard discusses how cities and organizations can learn from events like Harvey and Katrina and prepare for future events.