The recent fires have been devastating -- bigger, quicker
and sooner than we have seen in our lifetimes. But along with tales of
sadness come a few notes of hope. An elderly couple were rescued in the
nick of time by brave fire crews and someone’s cat was found unharmed in the
some smoldering debris. But what struck me were those who did not have to
evacuate, but were ready to do so. Maybe it was the imagery, but when I
heard of horse owners who keep their horse trailers always hitched to a truck
in fire season, that seemed so smart. They understand where they were
vulnerable, then prepared for it.
The world has seen its share of disasters so far this
year…Enormous snowfalls in the Atlantic Northeast in January, Floods in
Louisiana (again!) and West Virginia, fires in many parts of California, deadly
earthquakes in Ecuador, Italy and Japan. Between the natural disasters
and the manmade ones, one can get pretty discouraged, so I thought I’d bring
you a few photos and short stories about things that make us feel that we can
survive and survive well.
In 1999, a tornado hit Oklahoma, the likes they had never
experienced before. The force was so great that a 10-month old girl was
literally ripped from her mother’s arms and out the window. Even as the
mother was later being taken to the emergency room, she begged authorities to
look for her baby. To everyone’s amazement, the child was found in the
mud more than 100 feet from the house, alive and unharmed. [Oklahoma’s Own,
February 23, 2012.]
In May 2013, a tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma. This woman
was prepared and knew what to do. She was stunned but resolved that the
storm had taken everything from her. Then “the love of her life” was
found. Maybe you have seen this video, but it is worth viewing again:
This is a great photo, too.
In the flooding after Hurricane Katrina, some people who
lost their homes refused to be rescued unless they were allowed to bring their
pets with them.
From pbs.org. Human Society Volunteer rescuing dogs
after Hurricane Katrina.
From ifrc.org. Rescuers help elderly woman from flood
waters in India.
From: www.telegraph.co.uk. Japan Rescue
Dog Association looks for survivors of the Japanese earthquake in February
2011.
Be prepared, my friends.
