Hurricanes and Politicians
By Thomas D. Segel (08/03/08)
Harlingen, Texas, August 2, 2008: When a hurricane is battering down your fence, ripping shingles off your roof, ending all electric service and providing more rainfall than you normally see in a year…politics are not even part of your thinking process. This was the case with me and a few hundred thousand of my closest friends, as a storm called Dolly came knocking on the front door of Cameron County in Deep South Texas.
We all hunkered down as winds were gusting to more than 120 miles per hour reminded everyone of nature’s power. Then the hurricane was gone and one by one people came into their yards to see everything from minor tree damage to complete devistation. It was also became time to start lending a helping hand.
As I started piling the broken shards from fallen trees at the front of my property, it was neighbors who came to my aid. There came Windy from next door to help move the brush. Her toddler Ellie pitched in, doing her share to carry twigs to the pile. Even Ellie’s grandmother Yolanda was there working a rake to clear up debris. And there was no FEMA in sight. There were no federal, state, county, or city officials. There were just handful of neighbors, helping out.
At Treasure Hills Presbyterian Church, a third of the fellowship hall roof was missing and gaping holes shined through into a destroyed interior. The sewer system from the local hospital had failed and sewage was flooding the front lawn of the church. The sign in front of the sanctuary was destroyed. There was water damage everywhere. But, that could wait. The people were busy checking on each other, offering help or shelter when it was needed. And the pastor sent a newsletter to all members. This month we would be donating peanut butter and jelly to the local food bank.
They tell me our national guard was on hand to assist where needed and I did see a lot of trucks lined up in the mall parking lot. As far as those massive government helping hands our politicians always promise but seldom produce, they seemed to be missing in action. With more than 200,000 homes and businesses without electricity, I did see dozens upon dozens of electric company workers from across Texas and neighboring states, all laboring around the clock to restore power. They were on the job non-stop to start our healing process.
Now, a week after Dolly, things are somewhat back to normal for most of us. The city did pick up my tree debris yesterday. The roofers are coming on Monday…and oh yes, I saw FEMA last night. Their on-site official was explaining how we need to be patient and do that mountain of paperwork, which will be processed by Washington some time this millennium.
As for who is helping the people? I see the local Loaves and Fishes operation run by the Ministerial Alliance ever faithful at sheltering the homeless and providing hot meals. The Red Cross has been busy offering assistance. The Salvation Army has been everywhere, dong everything. Even the local CBS television station has been running a food drive. I still haven’t seen a politician wading in some of our waste deep water.
This would have been a perfect opportunity from Obama to roll up his shirtsleeves and slap on a pair of waders…walk the colonias and lament how the Bush Administration had again failed. But, he was too busy talking bout how the Republicans think he has a funny name and doesn’t look like the presidents on the one and five dollar bills.
This would have been a perfect time for McCain to hold another town hall meeting, hear the stories of storm victims and remind us that the Democrats in Congress went home on vacation without passing an oil-drilling bill. But, he was too busy comparing Obama to a couple of pop tarts. while lamenting the race card being played.
When a hurricane rages, nobody cares a glob of spit about politicians. In the aftermath of a hurricane nobody cares about dirty campaign ads, political gottchas, phony campaign promises, or what bills have or haven’t passed Congress. They care that the roof getting repaired, the lights staying on, the trash being collected…. and insurance adjusters arriving in a timely manner.
It might be a good idea for everyone in elected office to note what takes place in a community after a storm. It also might be a good idea for them to roll up those shirtsleeves and put on those waders. Then they might get some idea of those basic quality of life issues that matter to all Americans.
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