Well, as a recent evacuee of Hurricane Rita, I must say it was an extreme adventure to travel such a short distance in 13 hours on the road. And my story is very slight compared to my many friends that traveled 17 hours and as much as 47 hours just to get out of harm's way. Trapped on a highway crammed packed full of vehicles, I felt like we were about to embark on something of a very uncomfortable nature. It was hot, it was crowded, and no restrooms in sight. All I asked was for the "Porta-Potty" on highway 59 to be open. I mean, was that too much to ask??
My very brilliant husband, who by the way did not want to leave town, got us off of highway 59 and onto backroads leading to Crockett, TX with speeds up to 60 mph. Up to this point we had been traveling an average of 5 mph. From there we were in Lufkin, TX at our son's in-laws house in a matter of 35 minutes. Yes, Rita followed us there, but we survived and even without electricity, we were able to care for ourselves. So why didn't all of those people just spread out over the countryside to find their destination? I suppose because the news media was directing the million plus population of Harris, Galveston and surrounding counties to go up I-45 and hiway 59. What a gridlock of misery that was! But did they know the mind of Rita? She was all over the map and pushing through to her own path. It became a guessing game for the meterologists to predict her next move.
But now that Hurricane Rita has passed and some of us are all back in our places, I am listening to the CNN reports of "Who is to blame". What??? It was Hur-ri-cane. You know, an act of God. One of those things that us humans can't create or stop. So why all of this finger pointing?
It was overwhelming the number of human lives that had to be moved in such a short time. Of course, in the aftermath we know that too many people left one area in a narrow space of time and highways. But who knew it would be that way? I am so sad to see all of the polictical figures pointing fingers at others as if they could have somehow stopped those 150 mph winds and protected everyone in her path. Are they hallucinating?? Did they believe that another Noah would appear through FEMA and build an ark for all of those multitudes fleeing the rath of the winds? Did people really expect to see food, water, ice and electricty immediately after the winds ceased to blow? That is impractical and impossible.
There are too many power crazed, know-it-alls that can't stand the fact that they are NOT greater than GOD. They are just HUMANS. And as humans can not always protect everyone and provide them with everything they need. Death, starvation, homeless all because of hurricanes, typhoons, sunami and earthquakes...all acts of God that can not be stopped by man.
It is not a time to point fingers and try to find blame. It is a time to pull together. It is time to appreciate what has been done. FEMA paid people with credit cards to get things they needed. They are trying to do the best they can and now they are being blasted for not taking low bids on the purchases they made for those in need. Just today I heard that the Red Cross is under fire because they didn't get to a remote part of East Texas as quickly as they got to the Golden Triangle. The volunteer that responded to the accusations simply said they were trying to deliver supplies to another place and were trying to get to people as fast as they could. The Red Cross is run by volunteers. Vo-lun-teers!! Do you know what that means?? They-aren't-paid!! Give them a break! Too many people in need and not enough time and resources make people on the receiving end impatient. It is time to stop being selfish and mad. If you don't have what you need, stop just sitting there and leave. Forget your precious property and go somewhere else where agencies that are giving aide can find you.
I am sadden and terribly sorry for all of the people that lost homes and in some cases lives of loved ones. It is tragic that so many people have lost so much. However, when I am seeing black two-bladed helicopters traveling between Houston and destinations east of here, I know they are delivering supplies to the hurricane demolished areas. When I hear that FEMA is cutting 2000 dollar checks for those that are in need, I think that is great. When I watch the TV and see that the Red Cross has driven their trucks into a remote area and are passing out supplies, I say hooray. If it didn't come as quickly as the people wanted them, its a shame, but they came. Those people are finally getting help. Why not celebrate what they have? Why not pray for patience and healing?
Who is to blame for this tragic act of God? Maybe we are.
3 comments:
Well said, my friend!!
Ah, ML, you have said exactly what I have been feeling. I have hesitated to post my thoughts, because I just have a problem with all of this finger pointing and whining. KNowing that we didn't experience the worst of things I have thought maybe I just don't understand. But I am just tired of hearing all the negative and wanting to hear more of the "thank you" attitude. Perhaps this is more of a wake up call for ALL of us to get our priorities straight and recognize that we are all just weak, inept human beings who can do only so much in any given time.
And to boot, I don't appreciate those who are saying that prayers were answered and the hurricane went east the way of casinos, etc. Puh-leeze! Much more than that was interrupted and destroyed. Oh well, I just won't even go there.
I agree that we should give people a break and not be so quick to blame and say this was your fault, you did this wrong, etc. On the other hand, the problem with this hurricane was too many people evacuating at once and some people felt the media overhyped the seriousness causing people to evacuate so quickly. Even those who weren't in mandatory evacuation areas. It is important that those issues be addressed so that if there is a next time we won't make the same mistakes. We'll make others but hopefully not the same.
The primary critique directed at FEMA dealt with the Katrina relief effort. People were stranded on their roofs for days while very little or no relief effort was being made. After Katrina the Superdome was left practically abandoned by any aid workers were people who had no way to evacuate were left to starve and basically kill each other.
FEMA blames the local government and the local government sites a lack of aid from the federal government. If you ask me it seems that all parties dropped the ball. LA failed to plan and FEMA didn't do their job after the fact. All the while Bush was on vacation and knew nothing of what was going on. If nothing else Katrina exposed how rediculously innept and uninformed Bush is. He was still on vacation for two days after the Hurricane. On the plane ride over his staff had to put together a DVD of news from the past week to fill him in on what was going on. The President of the United States is less informed than the general public. No one is blaming anyone for the hurricane, but are holding the leaders of our nation accountable for their blunders.
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