-Who knew there was such a thing as a portable laundry station on wheels?
So as you know there are many here without power or water still...and it’s been a while...so yep...the clothes haven’t been washed in a while. Well, just down from where I’m staying is a church. And yesterday I noticed there was a bunch of trailers showing up with various church names on them. But one particular trailer caught my attention because it said, in BIG letters on the side, “Disaster relief Laundry Unit.” What? Is this a trailer full of washers and dryers?
Sure is. This group is from Kentucky. Side of the trailer also said “Southern Baptist Convention.” Well I’ll be...there’s such a thing as disaster relief teams like this sent out by church organizations like this to help in dire times.
Here’s how it worked...you walk up, hand them your clothes, they give you a tag, take your name and cell number and then they text you when they’re all washed, dried and folded. How cool is that? Another much needed free service that just showed up here two days ago!
-It doesn’t matter how big the bit is...or how small...ANY little bit will help.
There are levels of
“survivor guilt” happening all over or maybe might better be
called “damage guilt” or “loss guilt”...as in one person’s
loss may be next to nothing while a neighbor or a friend’s loss was
completely everything. And to offset these feelings of guilt, a very
natural human response is...how can I help? I haven’t spoken to
anyone yet that isn’t in a frame of mind of “how can I help.”
And I think this is a testament to just how far reaching this
recovery process is.
I’ve certainly struggled with my own
preoccupation with remaining engaged in the recovery phase. Partly
because we’re surrounded by it. Day-by-day things are ever
changing. As progress is made by utility workers, road crews,
volunteers arriving with donated supplies, volunteers distributing
supplies, and on and on and on.
I’ve also noticed (because it’s happening to me) that the emotional toll is beginning to compound.
A few days ago, for some reason, I was remembering the HBO television series Band of Brothers (which is based on the true story of “Easy” Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division as they landed and fought through the Western Front of World War II).
In episode seven titled “Breaking Point”, Lieutenant Lynn "Buck" Compton watches in horror as his close friends William Guarnere and Joe Toye take basically a direct hit from artillery fire and both of them lose a leg. It’s a gruesome scene. Buck can’t even utter the word “medic” for a few seconds because he stood there just completely stunned by what he was looking at...and then eventually he musters the ability to cry out “MEDIC!” It was shortly after this , Buck began to show signs of the “strain of battle” and was pulled off the line and out of combat.
So here’s the thing...I’ve watched this series many times...and each time when I see this unraveling with Buck Compton I’ve wondered, “Why is it that with some guys these horrors didn’t seem to bother them at all and with others just a complete shut-down or even sudden blindness occurred?”
Well, I get it now. Totally.
When you’re surrounded by people you know and love who have been harmed in so many ways by horrible losses or heart-ache and are also grief stricken yet have to push through re-grouping, recovering and moving forward...it takes a toll. And we are still discovery things that we didn’t know have happened here just a few towns over. So this toll keeps compounding and compounding.
I’m beginning to fully grasp why taking pause for yourself is a very worthy step indeed. Whether it’s finding a hot shower (as there are now shower stations at various locations), eating a hot meal (also available at many free locations), giving a hug to a stranger or getting a hug from a stranger, or staring at the sky, gazing at the mountains, touching a tree...and seemingly little thing like this are a big deal now. Because it provides relief...even if just for a moment to your mind and for your heart.
Today, I found myself watching some people because they were laughing with one another and it struck me… “Hey, they’re laughing.” A much needed respite to witness.
-Facts versus fiction
On the morning of Friday, Sept 27th it took a little while to figure out what the immediate issues at hand were and one of the extremely problematic issues was the loss of communication. Nobody could check on or check in with their loved ones. Cell towers were non-functioning and internet service was interrupted. Which also meant there was absolutely no way to communicate with the outside world.
Enter the value of the radio! The only way you could hear what was going on or gather intel on what had happened in and around the region was by word-of-mouth or by listening to a good ‘ole fashioned radio.
Here’s the interesting lesson learned beside the obvious (which is how much we depend upon cell phones and the internet to communicate and do so many other things...like banking for instance), I learned pretty quick that during those first few days...I could trust 100% what people were telling me because either the person telling me something had seen it with their own eyes, or they had heard it from someone who had seen it with their own eyes. When I say there was little to no misinformation during the first 48-72 hours...I mean that. (Of course...there also wasn’t a whole lot of information yet either). And not until the Internet came back up on line and a little time passed that misinformation started to get bounced around.
While there was misunderstanding during those first 72 hours...because we forgot what a cash society looks like for one. Because the internet was out...stores couldn’t utilize their credit card and debit systems. Poof, cash only. So follow along with me. When the first gas stations opened and person “A” pulled up to the pump...realized, oh cash only...has to go inside...pay...return to the pump...pump gas...depart. That all took somewhere in the ballpark of 5-10 minutes right? Now person “b” then “c” then “d” then “e” and now “f” arrive. Lines backing up. Because these cash transactions take longer...so then others see the line and think… “there’s a line at the gas station...I wonder if they’ll run out since only 1 or 2 stations in town are open...I better go get gas too.” And then before you know it there’s a line a mile long and word gets out...and the process compounds from there.
The radio stations had to keep repeating on the air “there’s no gas shortage.” Which was indeed helpful!
So yes, misunderstanding created some struggle as well...but...I can also say, I witnessed some amazing feats of organization and cooperation during these times. The gas lines eventually became very organized where there would be only one line...you couldn’t just drive into the side entrance of the parking lot and grab a pump that opened up...there were “systems” created on the fly to become more efficient. Sure there was a little yelling from time to time and horn honking but what a fascinating thing see unfold.
One of those early days there were cars lined up to go into town (because of the gas rush) on the street that goes past where I’m staying. And suddenly I realized I bet these folks know some things about what’s going on in and around the area (this was before I had a radio to use) so I walked down the street and just starting going car to car asking people what they knew. And then I would tell them what I knew in exchange. At first people were skeptical, but then when they realized I was just one of them trying to get the scoop on what was going on they were more willing to share info.
My oh my...the lessons learned during these days.
Stay tuned...things are improving each and every day!
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