I
looked in the mirror when I awoke this morning and all I saw were the people
affected by Hurricane Harvey (truth - what I actually saw was a middle-aged guy
who could lose a few pounds) but all I could think about was the
people impacted by Mother Nature. If you
are like me, we all received a huge wake-up call this week as we watched Harvey
unfold through Corpus Christi into Houston and now along the Gulf Coast.
First lesson – we can never outsmart
Mother Nature. She always wins.
The loss of lives, the financial
impact, the loss of homes, and the loss of faith and hope all unfolded before
our eyes on national television and in every story we read. Watching all
of this, I knew I couldn’t write about work in my blog this week when a tragic
event of this magnitude continues to cripple our country. Estimates of
over $160 billion (Katrina was $35 billion) in losses. Estimates of 52
plus inches of rain…52 inches (that is above your stove, your couch, your
bed)! At least 2 million homes damaged or destroyed and still climbing
(80% of residents do not have homeowner’s or flood insurance). Our
largest US oil refinery shut down (gas prices will spike $.25/gallon in a few
short days). Tragic.
Second lesson – we will never FULLY
understand the impact of this storm.
What have we seen? In
light of my blog last week on “Issues vs Sides”, it has been encouraging to see
how a tragic event like this forces us to all step back and evaluate what is
really important. Seeing the stories everyday of people helping people in
need regardless of political views, race, economic status, geography, etc. is
what we should be about every day. Caring.
Third lesson – tragedy often does bring
out the BEST in people.
From inspiring stories of
personal rescues, the Cajun Navy, armies of out of state folks driving their
boats to Houston, airlines (yes airlines!) waving change fees, mattress stores
opening their doors to allow people to sleep inside, celebrities behind the
scenes (in real time – thanks Tyler Perry) immediately helping folks who have
lost everything, firefighters forming human chains to rescue citizens of
Houston, people opening their doors and wallets, victims of Katrina paying it
back to help Houston. The list goes on and on. As one Houston radio station tweeted, “Harvey
has taken a lot, but it will NEVER take our humanity”. Perseverance.
Fourth lesson – we are a better nation
today than we have shown the world in the last few months. I will ask you
this though, why should it have to take a tragedy of this magnitude to make us
realize what is important and bring us together past our cultural and societal
differences?
I am a big proponent of “paying
it forward” and “kindness is currency”. Now is the time to help out our
brothers and sisters across America. Give love, give time, give
resources, give dollars, give prayers. Just give.
Final lesson –
Together. We. Win.
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Dave Harmon
People Division
“Kindness is Currency”
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidharmonhrFollow Dave and other USA TODAY NETWORK highlights at: Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, The Muse and Gannett Careers