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| A woman finds a kitten among the devastation. |
I do a lot of talking about the importance of planning for man-made and natural disasters. Heck, I even wrote a book about it, and I direct people to that book, as often as I can, and when there is unexpected loss, to my other book as well. I talk a lot about the importance of being able to evacuate and the importance of being organized to shelter in place, and most of the time, these strategies save lives and often our pets and our property as well.
Today after a day of scattered tornadoes yesterday the Oklahoma City region was hammered by a very rapidly occurring mile wide tornado which has been determined to have brought winds over 200 mph. Entire subdivisions are reduced to matchsticks. Cars from a mile away sit where a living room once was. The Orr Farm lost 75-100 horses in the tornado. An elementary school took a direct hit, as did a high school, and a hospital. The National Guard is on their way to the area. As of this moment we have no idea how many people have been injured, or how many people have been killed.
As human beings there are many things we can do to help us prepare for, and endure storms. However, nature is a powerful force. A storm as large as this, and one which formed so quickly depriving families and schools even from entering the safest areas or structures in preparation, is something that any amount of preparation cannot make tolerable. In this life we must do all we can to protect our families. We need shelters and supplies whenever we reside in a place which has tornadoes. We need a good plan for such occurrences. However, when we are hit with something so devastating, all we can do is help others when we are able and pray to God for strength, support, and His grace.
Please join me as I send a prayer to the good people of Oklahoma City and anyone adversely impacted by these tornadoes.
Heavenly Father,
Please be with and help those who have experienced the Oklahoma City tornadoes.
Please help the first responders to find those who are trapped in rubble.
Help the parents comfort their children.
Guide the surviving pets to find their owners and their families.
Please Lord, have the right doctors and nurses with the right words waiting for these frightened people. Help them to feel your grace and your love in the face of this tragedy and it's challenges. Help our leaders to make the best decisions. May this tragedy bring out the best in all these people.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
We are especially concerned about our friend Sandy and her family, and our friend John and his family, as well, who live in tornado ravaged areas.
(Sandy and her family are outside the 30 square miles of devastation, and they are alright, despite the fact that this happened very near where her son works.)
Thank you all.
Update: As of May 21st, Oklahoma City officials noted that they had found a number of people in shelters and they revised their figures of the dead to be 24, 7 of those children. Of course to the families who have lost members this remains devastating. However, it is joyous to think that fewer people perished in this F4/F5 tornado than was originally believed.
