When humanity steps in to lift victims above disaster
June 4, 2008 was a day that my family woke to the overwhelming feeling of being invaded while we slept. The faceless intruder found a way to breach the security of our locked doors and windows and rather then taking some of our most treasured possessions and family heirlooms, this intruder took a more relentless approach. Our family treasures and heirlooms were not stolen for value, instead they were left drowning beneath several feet of water, mud and sewage backup along with other more easily replaced possessions. The intruder entered our home disguised as flash flooding.
Please take just a moment to observe the slide show and get in touch with what so many of your fellow Americans are enduring at this time.
I never knew just how merciless water could be. In fact, the words of one contractor summed it up best, “if you forget how destructive water can me, look toward the Grand Canyon.”
While the disaster itself may not be on the level of Hurricane Katrina - the Midwest flooding is still a disaster. When it comes to loss, I think we all ache the same when we lose things that are important to us. As I waded through the soggy remains - I found myself left to make the painful choice of saying goodbye to dolls I’d collected since I was a young girl and Christmas dolls handed down from my grandmother that will never again accent our family tree. It was as close to a repeat of an eternal goodbye I’d just given my grandmother a few years ago.
Over the last several weeks, I’ve seen such an amazing outpour of compassion and support. From the quiet gifts that landed in my inbox to the emails of virtual strangers letting me know they were keeping the Midwest in their thoughts and prayers.
The world may seem like a big bad place and that the Internet is filled with corruption - but the virtual world I’ve become a part of is a much more caring place then the real world I’ve grown up in.
During the MomGadget Father’s Day Gift Guide series, I was introduced to a few products from a company called Webshots. You’ll see more of their products coming up in a special series I’m working on for graduates heading off to college. However, I wanted to point out the special effort Webshots is currently promoting in effort to give back to their community.
Webshots—American Greetings’ online photo and video sharing web site— launched a new installment of its powerful Editors’ Collection: The Flood of 2008. Online visitors of The Floods of 2008 will have the opportunity to help individuals and families affected by the floods by donating to the American Red Cross and the Humane Society.
Webshots Editors’ Collection is intended to showcase evoking images as seen through the eyes of its members. By selecting images from various user uploads and submissions, Webshots Editors’ Collection draws attention to national crisis and raises funds for communities in need by using the power of images to initiate action. The goal is to engage Webshots 6.6 million monthly visitors to make a difference in even the smallest of ways and to take positive action by donating to non-profits such as the American Red Cross and the Humane Society, all in an effort to help communities in need.
To view Webshots Editors’ Collection, The Flood of 2008, and to donate to the American Red Cross or the Humane Society, visit news.webshots.com
I’d really like to thank Lydia for alerting me to the efforts of Webshots. If I’m not able to find any other silver lining in all the mud left behind - I can at least look back on this experience and know that love, compassion and humanity is still very much alive and well in the hearts of so many.
These are some of my own photos that appeared on CNN - click to enlarge
On a side note for those keeping watch on the situation - I do have to say that I’ve been very impressed with the responsiveness of FEMA. My claim has been filed - the consultation completed and the inspection is done. We did receive word that we have been approved for Disaster Assistance. Considering the bad taste that was left in the mouths of so many over Katrina - I do have to say that I’m shocked at how well everything has gone. You’ll never hear me say a bad thing about FEMA again. That’s another post for another day.
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1 opinion for When humanity steps in to lift victims above disaster
Fergus Mayhew
Jun 26, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I can’t even begin to imagine how that must have felt … what a horrible thing to go through. I do hope y’all can get yourselves back together soon, and I’ll have you in my prayers.
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