I had planned to write something entirely different today. I actually had a couple of ideas but as Sandy got bigger and closer, my ideas got smaller and fainter. As I searched for trivia and anecdotes, storm warnings got more ominous. As I wrote a few lighthearted sentences, people were told to evacuate. When I tried to capture an image, the images of flooded subways and waterfalls over the edge of ground zero eclipsed the one on the back of my camera.
I have never lived through a hurricane but I do have an understanding and respect for the power of one. As hard as the wind blows, it's the water that causes the most damage. A storm surge of 13 feet, with torrential rain, is devastating. Water is a tremendous force. Any vehicle in the path of a storm surge will easily be swept away, houses will be swept of their foundations, huge buildings can collapse. Whole neighborhoods, even small towns, can be washed away.
And then it passes, you think, but then the back end of the storm hits.
Once it finally ends, it will take time for the water to recede. The ground is saturated, water will have to be pumped out.
Two of the collaborators for this blog live on the east coast, Judy Salcedo and Carol Albers, and we were all worried about them. Many of us have friends and relatives on the east coast and we are worried about them. Our local news showed people stranded at our airport, waiting, wondering and worrying about their loved ones on the east coast.
As I sat here in my dry, warm house, I wondered what I could do.
Situations like this bring out the best in people. So many want to help. I want to share a couple of ways you can help too.
One way is to go to your local blood bank and see it they are taking donations. The blood centers on the east coast have been closed, obviously, and are calling for donations.
Another way is through the Red Cross. My local chapter has already left with supplies to help. I'm sure across the country the same thing is happening.
-Visit their website-www.redcross.org
-You can call your local chapter or the 800 number-1-800-RED CROSS
-You can text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10.00 donation (it will show up on your phone bill)
-You can mail your donation to your local chapter or American Red Cross
P.O.Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013
Situations like this bring out the best in people, unfortunately, it also brings out the worst in people. Please be careful choosing you way to help. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
If you were in or near the storms path, give us a shout out in the comments to tell us how you are. Share your stories and pictures with us. Even if you were not affected by this storm, share with us about one that did affect you.
And be sure to let us know of other ways to help.
"I wondered why somebody didn't do something. Then I realized, I am somebody." ~Author Unknown
xo,
8 comments:
Such a poignant reminder of the misery still prevalent on the east coast today. In addition to Carol and Judy, I have family members as well as friends all up and down the coast. Thankfully, they're all safe.
Three weeks after I was married and living in KY, my family in PA was flooded by the rains from Hurricane Agnes. Water reached the attic; they never lived in that house again. But they survived and thrived amidst the hardship that followed.
Almost four years ago, we were hit by an ice storm, without electricity for six days. Our yard was ravaged but we and our house were unscathed. Now our yard is better than ever.
Hope keeps us going. That and perseverance because we are strong; we do what we have to do.
Thank you for a timely and thoughtful post, Linda. And our hearts and prayers continue with those in Sandy's path.
Such a beautiful post, Linda. Mother Nature is a powerful force and unfortunately she had the upper hand in this devastating storm. I was so grateful to return to my safe home after seeing the loss of so many. My prayers are constantly with those that have lost and are suffering.
Very heartfelt post Linda.
Like you said things like this off set our day to day life in so many ways. I found myself gassing up this morning and remembering how people back east now are standing in line with thier gas cans waiting to fill that 9 gallon can to walk back to their homes and fill their car so they can hopefully drive to "fill" it up.
Or as I read my computer, or call or text on my phone... people again are walking to stand in line to charge their phones.
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was caught in this night mare. My hope is that it will be a soon rather than later recovery for them.
Hugs
Beautiful post Linda. You said everything just perfectly. So relieved that Judy and Carol are safe and sound.
This is a lovely post Linda. The Red Cross information you offered is a very important part of the recovery... Letting people know how they can help. Carol and I are still living among the mess and devastation, but we are certainly two of the lucky ones in this storm. Each day my family and I are out helping out in the neigborhood we see more and more progress toward "normalcy" and as Dotti has told me, we will get through this. Life goes on in other parts of the country, as it should, but it's also good to know that people are still thinking of us New Yorkers and New Jersians and keeping us close in your hearts.
Beautifully written and timely post, Linda! We have all been worried about Judy and Carol as well as others we know and love in the area of the storm. It's hard to imagine what destruction the wind and water can do when you're not near it. Living where I do, we don't have much in the way of weather-related issues. However, one morning after a particularly fierce monsoon rain, we were without electricity for several hours and remembering that I can't imagine how people go through days and sometimes weeks without it. I was also visiting my mom when there was a heavy rainstorm and the creek near her overflowed and we had to be evacuated to the local elementary school at midnight where we spent the rest of the night. I can't fathom what it would be like for the people who have to spend days or longer in a shelter, some of them losing their houses all together. I have already made a donation to the Red Cross, as I felt they would be the best people to get the money where it can do the most good. I hope everybody reading this post will do the same.
My heart goes out to all who were affected by the storm! Judy and Carol, I'm so glad your safe and hopefully the cleanup will not take too long. I live near the Texas coast so I know all too well how powerful mother nature can be. Hugs & Prayers!
Beautiful post and great to have the links directly to the Red Cross. Re Dotti told you you'll get through this. She's told me that a few times and every time she's been right. I hold her to her word(s) - actually, I cling to those words. Blessings to you all, and many prayers .
Warmly and with great appreciation for this place,
Pam
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