Growing Pains: May 2010

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

We all MUST be heroes

There is one thing that I keep hearing during this crisis that I find frustrating. It is the same cry that rises up after every disaster in the world- "Where is the government? Where is the official help?"

The fact is that during the midst of a disaster there is no way for a governement or relief organization to know exactly what is happening or going to happen. There aren't enough resources or eyes to predict or even assess the event as it happens. Normally it is something that has never happened before so the best they can do is make educated guesses.

In the immediate aftermath there is much confusion and misinformation as the urgent needs are addressed and rescue efforts are organized. There is no communication in the hardest hit areas so sometimes it is not known where they are.

During the recovery period all that the governement and relief agencies can do is provide a framework to help and try to get a grasp of where the needs are. Any one of us who has organized a yard sale, fish fry, fund raiser or family reunion knows that even with weeks or months to organize it is still a huge job with huge obstacles. Now make it a matter of life and death that affects thousands or millions of people and try to make it happen instantly, with little or no warning.

There are still pockets of devestation that have not yet been found. Those residents have no water, no power, no home and no way to know where to go for shelter or apply for aid. It is up to those of us largely unaffected to connect with aid agencies to volunteer, but more importantly, don't wait to be deputized by an "official" agency. Go, do, serve. Be the bridge between the people in need and the agencies that can help them. Be the hands that take water and feet that wade through the filth to clean out a stranger's house.

As we go through this time of recovery it is up to each one of us to do most of the heavy lifting. We must take care of our own homes and the homes and businesses of those around us. We all must be heroes.

Sunday, May 02, 2010

What a weekend!

We have managed to collect more than fifteen inches of rain in our gauge since yesterday. The rain collected about 1 1/2 inches high in our basement, and trickled down our chimney into the laundry room. The boys bailed the basement and I supported their efforts with lots of good cooking. We have been okay since the rain slowed down, but things are really rough in Nashville and all of Middle Tennessee tonight. Hundreds of homes underwater and the worst is yet to come as the rivers start to crest. Here are some pictures the boys took of the soccer fields near our house. Fortunately we are way up on a ridge and it is down in a bottom, but close none the less.

There are two sets of pictures taken several hours apart. You can click on the photos for a larger image.

Also, we are quite close to the Opryland Hotel and it has been evacuated and the water is in the parking lot of the hotel and Opry Mills Mall. It is all very surreal.