But For the Grace of God Go I

Dear Friends:

October 1st brought us midway into the annual hurricane season. It also brought several sighs of relief.

Each year, Americans (especially those of us who live in Florida or along the Gulf Coast) rush out to get our hurricane tracking maps (Publix prints them on the back of paper shopping bags) and then we spend the next four months semi holding our breath -- just hoping and praying no major storms will hit us this year. So far so good. We have been lucky, but we still have five more weeks before the season officially ends.

Florida had its share of back to back bad storms in 1994. Since then we've done well. Although saw over 20 inches of rain and major flooding up and down the St. John's River and too many bad tornados to even count, we have been lucky and we count our blessings.

For a complete account of all the federal disaster declarations over the past 50 or so years, visit www.fema.gov and be in shock!

Last year, the Gulf Coast was pounded several times. New Orleans thought for sure Gustav would bring back a second round of Katrina's fury but, luckily, the storm hit to the west and did not do as much destruction as initially anticipated. Hurricane Ike was another story. It was the third costliest storm to ever hit the United States right after Katrina and Andrew, which tore up south Florida over a decade ago. Experts say the damage from Ike will take at least as long to clean up and rebuild as it did after Katrina. The last work camp from Katirna was located in Mississippi. It just closed last June.

Rebuilding homes and lives after a natural disaster is a very long process. Even when communities are rebuilt they still are not the same -- everything changes.

Each time I read about a disaster or hear about a crisis in some other location I can't help but think "but for the grace of God" it was not us. I live on the east coast of Florida. Our state is like a big thumb stuck out in the ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Florida is a sitting duck. Mobile home parks are especially vulnerable.

Just look at Barefoot Bay located just north of Vero Beach right near where the Indian River shares a waterway that leads into the Atlantic. There is something about that location -- maybe its the water, the air or whatever . . . but for some odd reason that community seems to experience some type of flooding or damage over and over again. When it does --those of us to the north, the south and the west breath deep and say once again "but for the grace of God."

The fact is that no location on earth is safe from the increase in natural and man-made disasters. Communities need to untite and pool resources and figure out proactively how to plan for a potential event. Families also need to have a clear plan as to how they would respond. Churches need written disaster plans and should understand how valuable training in crisis counseling and disaster response can be not only for their own congregations but for the community at large.

The Florida Crisis Consortium is currently training spiritual counselors to work side by side with mental health officials to respond to disasters and to conduct door to door assessments after a crisis happens. Here is a great opportunity for people of faith to offer hope. For more information on this visit www.floridashealth.com/prepare or contact Lynne_drawdy@doh.state.fl.us. Paid training and paid deployment opportunities are available.

Communities need to unite and pool resources. The time to get training, build relationships and create response plans is NOW -- not AFTER a disaster hits.

Not only that, organized teams are better able to respond to nearby communities in need. Here is our opportunity to share the love and hope in Christ to hurting people right in their hour of need. I believe that is the very essence of our Christian faith. It is all good to send money to far off missions but what about filling gaps and serving critical needs right here at home?

Families also need to have a clear plan as to how they would respond in an emergency. We all believe we'll be able to think on our feet and respond as needed but would we really? Churches need written disaster plans to help protect assets and to take care of their own congregation members while also exploring ways they can be a resource and an asset to the community at large.

Just think, if every church specializes in one aspect of disaster prep, response and relief communities can become strong enough to cope. When the church is organized it becomes a valuable asset to local government and there is less liklihood of duplication or territorial disputes. There are plety of resources available to get churches organized and trained with credentials local, state and national government will recognize and appreciate. When disaster strikes, people must work together. For online training visit www.actsworldrelief.org or www.fema.gov.

For two days I wondered if my children's aunt Lena, her family and the church she and her husband pastor had been swept away by the huge tsunami which washed over American Samoa last week. I finally got word that she and her immediate family were safe in a hotel in Hawaii. The school they ran, and her Samoan husband's family did not fare so well -- they were in direct line of the 22 foot wave.

On September 21, 2009 20 inches of rain fell over metro Atlanta causing over 100 roads and three major highways to close. The roller-coasters at Six Flags in Murietta were nearly sunk under the red clay muddy waters. Far worse, at least seven people lost their lives.

Volunteers are desperately needed in the Atlanta region right now to help muck out homes and to assist with clean-up and to eventually help rebuild. There are several national relief ministries looking for short and long term volunteers. Individuals as well as church groups are needed and it does not require special skills to clean up debris or to muck out a home or business.

To read about the storm or for video clips visit www.wsbtv.com in Atlanta or go to www.abc.newsgo.com.

To volunteer for a few days or weeks, contact www.operationblessing.org, www.cityimpactministries.org; www.actsworldrelief.org or www.somebodycares.org.

If you are asking what all this has to do with Random Acts think twice. The planning you do today will make it easier if a disaster strikes. The prayers, money or volunteer hours you spend now to help your business, church, community or a national relief group prepare or respond to a crisis will bless disaster victims and will strengthen our local and national ability to respond.

Get involved.

Blessing,
Cindi (aka. POETIC JUSTICE)