DISASTER
Life
continues to test our mettle as humans are subjected to nature’s power. Hurricane
Harvey’s victims in the U. S. are busy reassessing their lives in the Gulf States
of Texas, Louisiana. Other affected areas
include Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras, Yucatan Peninsula, Windward Islands.
South of our
border Mexico experienced the most powerful earthquake in a century registering
8.1 off their southern coast with many deaths and much destruction. Another
hurricane, Katia, created more damage there but has been downgraded now to a
tropical storm once it moved ashore.
A third hurricane,
Jose, remains a potent force, but the hurricane of most concern presently
churning ocean waters is Irma with wind speeds in triple digits. Caribbean islands have been decimated as Irma demolished
Barbuda made her way through Cuba, the Florida Keyes, to make landfall on the, U. S. mainland in Florida.
Hurricane
Irma is over 400 miles wide – wider than the state of Florida. Moving up the Gulf Coast into Tampa Bay --
the Tampa, St. Petersburg area is now expected to take the direct hit -- over
700 miles of coastline that is especially vulnerable to flooding given the low sea
level. Unfortunately, failure to take
measures in years earlier to prepare for predicted rising sea levels due to
climate change reportedly will be even more challenging after this hurricane.
Storm surges
to 15 feet are possible reaching the roofs of single story homes. South
Floridians have had mandatory evacuations with more than 6 million seeking
safety elsewhere. Many storm shelters are
full. Even as I write this more last minute
evacuations are occurring. Power outages are present. Tornadoes are reported in southeast Florida. Irma took an unexpected turn to southwest
Florida shores where the storm surges could reach second story level of many
beachside occupied homes.
The U. S.
Coast Guard is prepared to assist. The Florida National Guard has been mobilized ready for deployment when appropriate. FEMA has been marshaled in preparation. Support
personnel have been arriving in Florida for several days from across the United
States. For example, one news report filmed trucks on
freeways with First Responders from the Los Angeles Fire Department including a
Swift Water Team with their dog for rescue and recovery
.
Hurricane Irma is expected to travel the full length of Florida into the states of Alabama,
Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina where preparations for safety continue.
DIGNITY IN
DISASTER
Our
President has been behaving and speaking with the dignity that his office warrants in these days when so many of our nation’s
people are experiencing hurricanes devastation in their lives.
HELPING
LANGUAGE
Last week
with the extremely hot temperatures we were experiencing curtailing my
activities, I wrote about some thoughts that crossed my mind regarding feelings
and attitudes engendered when I might need to ask for help. Also, I was reminded recognizing any limitations
I might have was important for my own well-being.
I considered
the significance for all of being cooperative and expressing appreciation for
assistance provided by others. I noted a tendency toward grouchiness or being
out-of-sorts could sometimes surface if a person didn’t feel well or was
experiencing pain, but how, ideally, we minimize subjecting others to such.
Now that our
Southern California weather has sufficiently lowered into double digit figures,
actually mild levels for this time of year where I live, I’m prompted to think
of another helping aspect. There are situations where we must provide
assistance for the safety or best interests of another that is not wanted, even
rejected.
We might
need to re-examine the manner or language we use, then adjust our tone and/or
phrasing. This can make a difference
under ordinary circumstances, but anyone caring for a loved one experiencing
dementia has or will find doing so to be especially important.
In times of stress we are especially vulnerable to losing patience with others when calming may be needed but not always easy to provide.
Florida Department of Elder Affairs reports there are 5.2 million seniors there. I think of them -- hope they're coping as well as possible through these difficult times.
Informal cooperation is so important in disastrous situations when the official authorities are often slow to respond and not especially helpful. I'm impressed by all those ordinary Houstonians (?) who did so much to rescue stranded residents and help those in trouble. People aren't as selfish as you think they are.
ReplyDeleteYeS, Texans really helped when they could.
DeleteI'm thinking that you didn't mention the fires out west because they are man-made disasters? We sure have enough stuff going on in the world to depress anyone! But I can't imagine being a caregiver during a hurricane! I have a friend in that situation in Florida and they did not evacuate.
ReplyDeleteFires are in all the western states last I knew, but not sure they were all manmade though know many were. I didn't mention fires this time as the two I previously wrote about in So Cal are no longer an issue. Decided I'd stick with hurricanes and the big earthquake. -- and thats just in our part of the world.
DeleteMost of the fires in the two states I know most about -- Idaho and Montana -- were started by lightning. That's why thunderstorms are such a double-edged sword during fire season. While the rain they bring may be helpful, they also bring lightning, and can start more fires than they help extinguish.
DeleteWe have definitely had our share of disasters lately!
ReplyDeleteYes, that man has been behaving better, for how long ...??????
We will see if these disasters wil have any positive lasting effect on our President. At least he's supportive of aid to all, so far.
DeleteI think you make a very good point about the tone of and type of language used when offering help to someone. Even something as simple as saying, "Won't you let me help you with that?" rather than "Let me help you with that" can make a big difference to some people.
ReplyDeleteThose subtleties of word useage can make a difference as your example illustrates. A caregiver on my sidebar is currently writing of her first hand daily experiences, often including language's words and nonverbal features effective for her with spouse at "Life's Little Surprises".
DeleteThere is hardly an area that isn't dealing with some sort of misery. Right now my family on both coasts of Florida are dealing with and angry Irma. I have been impressed with the good of people and try not to give the bad credence. What I know for sure, the good definitely out number the bad.
ReplyDeleteSure hope your family remains safe and the miseries with which they're coping end soon. Expect its difficult to be so far away from them and unable to provide assistance. Glad to hear your perspective that the good in people outnumbers the bad. Will wish the sun to return soon to dry everything, power to be reestablished and some sense of normality can develop soon.
DeleteSometimes, there isn't time for calm and understanding when real trouble looms. My in-her-eighties mother didn't want to evacuate for either Rita or Ike. Because of her resistance, we ended up making a 14-1/2 hour trip to Nacogdoches (three hours away) when we evac'd for Rita.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as Ike started rolling around, I told her, "When I say it is time to go, we are going. You'd better start gathering up what you want to have with you now." Of course she didn't, so one day before the time to get out of Dodge, I laid down the law: we are leaving tomorrow, at 9 a.m., and whatever is ready is ready.
She said, "You can't boss me around." I said, "I can when it's important to do so." It all worked out, and I'm sure the only reason it did is that she could sense the unspoken though going through my mind over and over: "I'm the adult in this room."
That surely sounds like a harried, even scary time. There can be situations when the status of person we care for can present little choice about handling matters as safety comes into play. I'm sure that was a difficult time for you when time was of the essence with lots of stress and complications when lack of cooperation would only worsen matters. We do the best we can when faced with emergencies as you had to do to evacuate. Glad you were able to achieve that exit to safety for all however you had to do so. Hope you don't ever have to encounter that situation again.
DeleteI read an article today about our use of language for these catastrophic events piling up. Not Forces of Nature but rather Force of Humans changing the get fabric of our planet and citing wetland development from the thirties causing huge flooding in Missouri. Valid point.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
I agree, there are numerous ways in which we humans are contributing to the problems. The situation you describe is just one example. So much we need to do in the U.S. Maybe instead of rebuilding in some areas destroyed by fires, floods, various disasters, people might want to consider strict zoning requirements and/or relocating elsewhere -- especially given what we know about climate warming. If not, or in addition then definite infrastructure changes need to occur as I've read have been instituted in some European nations subject to the ocean's variations. The attitude of thinking we can control "harness" nature rather than respectfully living more in harmony requires a change in thinking for many. Then taking action is required -- profiting at any cost and at the expense of life must cease not only in our country, but around the world as I think of the rain forest destruction in South America.
DeleteEarthquake, winds, floods, and the fires out west...it's been a difficult few weeks for a lot of people for sure.
ReplyDeleteI expect challenging times lie ahead for many for a long time to come.
DeleteLove your thoughts on helping language. I learned pretty quickly the importance of patience, kindness and empathy when interacting in our world of dementia. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks Carole -- your blog accounts of daily experiences and language you find effective with your loved one can be really helpful examples of what has worked best in all sorts of situations.
DeleteExcellent points, Joared!
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with your comments on language, my experience was different. While caring for my wife with Huntington's Disease lnguage and tone made no difference to her. For nearly 10 years I was physically attacked almost daily, told how much she hated me and more.The dementia she experienced was the worst thing I have ever experienced.
ReplyDeleteIRMA was truly a giant bear of a storm. Luckily those are somewhat rare though every year there are big storms - most just do not come ashore. Fires, though, are nature's way of cleaning things up. That typically is inconvenient for humans as we like to build everywhere there is a dollar to be made. I do confess to paying more attention to CA fires, owing to the fact I lived there for over 30 years and still have friends living fire hazard areas.
I too have been pleasantly surprised b.y the tenor/tone of POTUS45 during thehurricane crises. Fingers crossed this is more than just a one-off deal.
Thanks againfor a great read
Your experience with your wife's language would have been really difficult to live with. Understanding that her words were the consequence of her disease might not always have been sufficient to prevent your reactive feelings. Depending on the areas of the brain affected such language or variations can occur for persons with numerous neuro diseases, brain injuries, other events including such as strokes as well as the dementias, Alzheimer's. Speech that is rampant with cursing expletives can occur in some individuals who have never used such language before, often repelling loved ones who are challenged to separate the person's behavior change from their former true persona. So sorry for you or anyone who must cope with a loved ones behavior change. Ten years would be a truly long period of time. Hope you or others in such a situation would have or seek a strong support system
DeleteI' understand science explains the oceans water warming which energizes the storms strength has increased compared to previous years so we will see more such storms. Predicted rising of coastal sea levels can only worsen the situation since our nation lacks the protective approach taken by some European nations with low lying coasts. I think we have some hard questions to ask about where we build and live, whether it's flood or fire prone -- but I agree you're so right that profit motives often override common sense safety concerns.