Ordinary Wisdom
[John] I believe we will be seeing more “disruptive” events like this and eventually worse as we approach next winter. Then when we have a major disruptive event, we will see an October 7th-type terrorist attack. I suspect that we will lose regional or national grid. Then immediately following the attack, I think we need a lot of survival detail, including setting up local like-minded people to join a group with special attention to food/water, shelter, medical, defense, etc. I think it will be helpful to provide links to articles and videos. As well as support from CORAC. I am not certain of our organizational resources yet and could use some ideas on that….
This would be a good time to mention that I have nine years of experience in disaster relief; I went on 18 missions, most of which I led.
My disaster-relief years were very formative for me as a Christian. I learned some very good lessons that probably will apply to us here.
Something most of us don’t realize until we have experienced at least some of it is that after all the fear, panic, and shock from something so devastating as a massive hurricane (like Katrina) or a category-5 tornado (like Joplin, Missouri), and after the utter devastation and all that goes with that, there is no holier ground on earth. You see and feel God’s grace and mercy everywhere. We came to realize very soon that our primary function was to be an instrument of God and provide love and attention to the victims. That helped them get back to reasonable “normal.”
I have seen people with the blank stare, totally unaware of what’s going on. We learned to gently walk up to them and place a hand on their shoulder and reassure them that God’s mercy is there, and that all will be better now. It never ceased to amaze me, the effect that such a simple thing would have on people. Then you let them speak, and you listen as they tell their sad story. Then we (the mission team) would gather around them and lay hands upon them, and each of us would contribute to our prayer. Then we would go to work clearing out the debris. It is so beautiful to watch these people come back to “normal” and actually regain their hope and determination.
My hope is that we prepare ourselves and others to provide such aid (and other aid as well) when it becomes necessary.
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