When it comes to weather catastrophes, we who live in Minnesota are lucky. Yes, we sometimes face life-threatening tornadoes and blizzards and even some very minor earthquakes – faint rumbles, cracked windows.
However, we don’t experience the raging, out-of-control fires so common in the Southwest and in California or the rare but horrific quakes in that state. And, thank goodness, we never have to endure the cataclysmic hurricanes like the seemingly never-ending, stalled one along the Gulf Coast of Texas.
This is not to say we cannot learn from such disasters; we can. They should teach us when local authorities give warnings about threatening weather, we should heed them. In Minnesota, such warnings tend to be “Take cover” or “Stay put.” Many do not heed such warnings, and some foolhardy souls die.
In south Texas, the warning was something like: “Leave your homes, travel or take public transportation to hurricane shelters far from the coast.” Many people ignored the advice; they stayed put when they shouldn’t have; and they are now suffering because of their decisions – many of them stranded in upper floors of none-too-solid homes or even hunkering down on rooftops awaiting rescue. The same thing happened when Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans – people in homes drowning or awaiting rescue as 911 switchboards went haywire.
Granted, it would be a very tough decision to abandon one’s home or pets for days or even weeks. However, it’s not so hard a decision to make when one realizes it can mean the difference between life and death.
So many drenched survivors of Hurricane Harvey are telling reporters, “I didn’t think it would be this bad!” Well, in fact, they were warned again and again. The satellite photos showed a truly monstrous storm heading right their way.
And now, in the long aftermath, with constant rain falling day after day, dedicated law-enforcement personnel, emergency workers and volunteers are working overtime, often risking their lives, to save the stranded and transport them to safe shelters.
The good news is that, as of Aug. 28, only two hurricane-related deaths have been reported, an astoundingly low number, thank goodness. But there are bound to be more. Another dose of good news is the extraordinary efforts made by people dropping everything they’re doing to help and to comfort one another, no questions asked. Yet more good news is that, unlike the Katrina aftermath, the Federal Emergency Management Administration seems to have its act together this time around.
The rains continue; the real work is yet to begin. It will, we’re told, take more than a year to rebuild up from the soggy ruins.
The best way to help victims of the storm now is to donate to the American Red Cross and/or The Salvation Army. They have been at the scene from the get-go with their arms-wide-open help. To donate, visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS or go to givesalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-725-2769.
