Emergency Story and an Invitation

There will always be those
who say you are too young and delicate
to make anything happen for yourself.
They don't see the part of you that smolders.
Don't let their doubting drown out
the sound of your own heartbeat.

You are the first drop of rain in a hurricane.

Your bravery builds beyond you.
You are needed by all the little girls
still living in secret, writing oceans
made of monsters, and
throwing like lightning.
You don't need to grow up
to find greatness.

You are so much stronger than the world
has ever believed you could be.
The world is waiting for you
to set it on fire. Trust in yourself

and burn. 

~ Clementine von Radics, from Mouthful of Forevers

Calm sea

My “emergency stories” mostly involve storms. There were lots of storms in my youth. The stories we would tell later would include the names - like we were talking about a wayward family member -- Carla came in 1961 and storms followed varying in strength and damage (Beulah in '67, Celia in '70, Fern in '71, St. Valentine’s Day flood in '72, maybe, Allen in 1980 come to mind), but always resulting in similar responses from folks, good and bad.

Yes, some people would take advantage of others - looting and price gouging happened as it is happening now. But the response I remember best was what I saw from my parents, relatives, friends, and neighbors. People pulled together.

How did you learn about what to do in an emergency?  

Like so many people who grew up along the coast of Texas, I learned from my parents, primarily, when we got a tropical storm or hurricane. 

Our house became the "Flinn Hotel" as folks whose homes were in flood areas would come and stay with us. One time I think we had 17 people with us. Some even stayed in the travel trailer that Dad parked on the driveway. Once the storm passed (and we had no power - sometimes for weeks - remember that?) Dad would make coffee every morning on a camp stove and the neighbors would come for a cup.  We cleaned up – our place and other people’s places. When we rested we told stories, played games, read, and slept.

The emergency responders never slept. The sheriff’s office responded to calls and made calls. Telephone lines were down. People had no way of checking on each other except “going” or getting messages out through people with radios. We were lucky and had access that other folks did not have. Utility workers came from all over to get our power and plumbing and phones going again. 

Communities worked together as people checked on each other – fed each other – cleaned up with each other – mourned with each other. 

“Harvey,” with its incredible damage, felt overwhelming (little did we know). A grownup now (allegedly) I almost felt my parents’ whispering in my ears – “This is what you need to do. This is how to stay safe as you do it.” Their guiding hands were on my shoulders. 

Neighbors pulled together. They did. YOU did. 

NOW we have the challenge of Covid-19 (I keep wanting to put an “R” in there). 

I keep comparing this situation with those earlier experiences. It is so much more challenging in so many ways. With hurricanes we had a “playbook.” We pretty much knew what might face us during and after. This virus is writing the playbook as it goes. We don’t know what to expect. And when people say they have never seen anything like this I have to agree. I have never seen anything like this. 

But I know we have survived storms before. I know that the water isn’t rising, there is no tree resting on the roof, the lights are on, cell phones are working and the WiFi is on the water is safe the neighborhood Facebook group (and so many other groups and individuals) is working hard to take care of folks, we have more than enough toilet paper (that's a joke right there) and paper towels and food. We pretty much have everything we need. And we have time.

I am reminded of those days working through the aftermath of storms with Mom and Dad and I feel those hands on my shoulders and I hear that soft whisper, “You have got this.”

Basketflower - one of Mom's favorites.

Final Note to Self:

*Stay home. 

*Help your neighbor from a distance if you can. 

*Check in with friends and family enough – but not too much.

*Be grateful.

*Pray for all those who cannot stay home because their jobs demand it (and be mindful of who they are: police, firefighters, military, other government employees, the people who work in grocery stores, shipping and delivery services, and others who are helping you stay at home.

*Share good words.

*Remember that we will get through the next hour, day, week, month, year….

*Practice social distancing when you are out.

*WASH YOUR HANDS.

PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORIES! We all need reminding we have got this!