A few days after I arrived in Africa, I learned of the floods that ravaged the state of West Virginia and western portions of Virginia. My wife’s uncle was in White Sulphur Springs when this catastrophic event took place. He said that it had stormed and rained started at about 3 a.m. that morning, an unbelievable amount of rain fell in about an hour’s time in the afternoon. Rivers and creeks could not contain the torrent of water that would flow down from the mountains. Cars, houses, and people were swept away by what could be labeled the extreme of a flash flood. My wife’s uncle had to spend the night in a Food Lion parking lot, because he was unable to make it back to a place that we had just been at a few weeks ago.
Members of our family have just returned from what was, in the past, a family gathering for the Fourth of July. This year’s journey contained images that they will not soon forget, if ever. One family member stated that it could only be described by the word “sadness.” Relief efforts have begun, and help is pouring in from across this country. This area and these people will overcome this, just as those devastated by hurricanes and tornadoes have recovered in the past. I have a friend who lives in White Sulphur Springs who described this past Sunday’s church service. She said that thanks to the team that removed the mud from our fellowship hall – and though we had no power or water – the Spirit of the Lord was present, and we had a wonderful time of worship.
My question is are we prepared for natural disasters? Do we heed the warnings of officials when they are given? From what I have learned over the years, natural disasters take many by surprise. Part of the surprise comes because the event comes on so quickly. For the events about which we have forewarning, many refuse to believe that it could be that bad. We fail to think that an unsecured item could become a flying, lethal projectile in a wind event, or that a few inches of water crossing a roadway could sweep a vehicle away. The point is that we are much more reactive to events than we are proactive. I am reminded of the little girl in Montgomery Ala. who asked her mother why sirens going off. Her mother answered that they were tornado sirens. The little girl then said, “aren’t we supposed to do something and if so, why isn’t anyone moving?” I was at that restaurant that night, sitting at the table next to that little girl. Natural disasters change things, just as the part of the country that you are in should change your thinking.
The way to be best prepared for a catastrophic event is to be mindful of what is most likely to occur in your part of the country. We, in Virginia, are most prone to weather events, such as severe thunderstorms, high winds, tornadoes, an occasional tropical system, flash flooding, wind-driven fires, and ice storms and snowstorms. Technology has allowed our weather forecasters to be able to give forewarning; though it may be a short period of time, at least it is forewarning. It is important that we have a plan of action when we have been forewarned of an event. Thinking that it will not be that bad has gotten many people hurt or killed.
I will close where I started. A man who lived on Little Creek Road; off of Route. 92 in West Virginia, was coming home from work when the flooding event occurred. He had to park his truck at the beginning of the road. What would have normally taken 10 minutes to get home took him four hours.
He had to climb above the roadway and make his way through the mountains. I am sure that he may have had to cross at least one flooded creek. He made it safely, but I am quite certain that this was not anything that he thought that he would be doing. What if this had happened at night? What then?
