DISASTERS ARE HARD ON PEOPLE

It is so important we all review our family plans, assemble disaster supply kits, review how we receive information and review family communications. There has never been a more important time to prepare than this moment.

Disasters are hard on people. It's even harder if you don't have a plan.

Many years ago, I was working in a coastal EOC following the landfall of a major hurricane. All the days had run together, no one was sleeping, and it was very tropical. I was at my desk and this lady from logistics tapped on my shoulder and said, "Are you Tom?" I replied, "yes." She said, "I need you to meet this man. He needs some tarps." I said, "As soon as I complete this resource request, I will meet with him."

A few minutes later she came back and said, "Tom you need to come now, he is a business leader, and he needs some help." I said, "okay" and went to meet him. This fella was tall. I'm 5'9" and I had to look up at him. This guy was big.

He said, "Sir, I need some tarps. We need to cover these billboards cause I'm running for President. We need to help the people." I looked at him and felt a slight weakness in my gut. We just stood there for a second, but it seemed like minutes. He then collapsed to the floor and begam sobbing in the fetal position. I looked up and there were two priests standing there. I don't know where they came from. They weren't in the room when I walked in. I looked at the priests and said, "Do something with him, or I'm going to be just like him in about 2 minutes." I then stepped over him like a broken tree limb to resume my duties.

A few days later, I demobilized and went home. About two months later, I woke up at 2 a.m. and remembered stepping over that fella like a broken tree limb. The guilt was eating me. I did not go back to sleep. I called the EM later that morning. They were able to track down the status of that fella. He was okay. No one is sure about the priests that were in the room.

That was so long ago and there have been so many storms since then. These floods and hurricanes are hard on people.

We must reduce our risk to all hazards.

Sources: American Red Cross, Ready.gov, NOAA and local knowledge

Tom M.

Photograph provided by NOAA - The Great Mississippi River Flood of 1927A refugee camp at Vicksburg, Mississippi, on May 3, 1927. This was a nice camp on high ground. Many refugees had to live on the levees for months until the water receded. Monthly Weather Review Supplement No. 29.

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