Every time I sign onto facebook, I
have been invited to donate to the relief fund for Harvey - as I'm sure all
facebook users have. I have never dealt
with the aftermath of a hurricane or earthquake or tornado and hope I will
never have to. I don't know what it's
like - but it sounds horrible. It looks
horrible. I know that there are many who
are suffering. I'm certain that the
current situation in Houston Texas is worse than my own in Myrtle Creek.
I do know what it's like to be
surrounded by cold winds and how heavy snow can get. I have had a small taste of a heat-wave. I can deal with mold better than some. I can actually better deal with strong and
unpleasant odors as I have lost my sense of smell - although I can smell the
smoke as it lingers through any air holes it may find - the opening and closing
of the door. It is awful. I do know what
it's like to struggle to breathe in smoke-filled or polluted air. I feel for the asthmatic.
I called Biff's mother-in-law who has
already lost three children to health
issues. Two boys have survived - one in
Texas, one in Washington. The one in
Texas had been evacuated before Harvey came.
They returned to debris outside of their home. Miraculously the inside remained
unharmed. She thinks the other is
alright as well and has plans for talking with him later this afternoon. I don't know if the air quality his family is
breathing compares to ours.
There have been countless news stories
about specific fires and many with several fires. You can read just a few here, here, here and
here. Or you can Google your own search. Fires have been burning most of the summer
(if not all of it)
I have been hearing the helicopters, but not seeing them. I wonder how they are able to see. Or perhaps I'm not really hearing them. It just became a common sight and so I just think I hear them.
I came to Oregon for the clean moist air. It has disappeared along with the mountains and sky. But I'm sure I would have headaches and coughing in Salt Lake as well. The boys have a cousin who is unable to breathe due to asthma and fire/smoke combination in another county. I have a brother-in-law who has probably been affected by the smoke from the same fire as he also works in an area the smoke has lingered. It was worse at Church than it is in the house. Good testimony meeting though.
These are various pictures I have taken of the same mountain that can't be seen at this time:
I had an instructor post: Assignments
due; if you have been affected by Harvey, arrangements can be made! Please let us know. That is very thoughtful to consider those who
may have been evacuated, for those cleaning up, for those who possibly aren't
able to sign on and see the message because of the situation.
Harvey
isn't the only natural disaster that has taken place.
