Years ago when I left the oh-so-glamorous wold of television news, I landed a gig as the spokesperson for the American Red Cross. Little did I know the impact it would have on me to this very day.
Watching the destruction that Ike caused over the weekend reminded me of the days and nights I spent responding to similar disasters across the state and country. I've been there, comforting people who only hours before had a roof over their heads and food on the table. I've waded though chest-deep flood waters, delivering food and cleaning supplies to families who weren't about to leave their home, no matter how much damage was done.
Seeing the scores of people who lost everything this weekend reminded me of a moment I hadn't thought of in years. Back in 1997, San Antonio suffered through a "hundred year flood." Many parts of the city were underwater including this area around Cibolo creek near Schertz, TX. Near the creek was a mobile home community that bore the brunt of the massive floodwaters. When I arrived on the scene, I was approached by a big burly guy who asked me if I had an extra cleaning kit in my car. I did, so I led him back to my car. Being the PR guy at the scene, I had a camera around my neck so he asked me what I did. I told him besides handling media, it my was my job to tell the story of the Red Cross and the type of assistance that we provided. He was grateful for all that we had done for him, so he invited me back to his home to "snap all the pictures I wanted."
We left the dry ground where I had parked my car and began wading into the flood waters toward his mobile home. Once inside, I saw the destruction that mother nature is capable of. Mud caked the floor, the walls, everything. And that smell. People who have worked floods know what I am talking about...it's a mixture mud, septic tanks, and God knows what else. I began taking a few pics when I noticed a brand new TV perched high atop two bookcases that were tied together. He saw me looking at the TV and started to chuckle. He said that he had just bought it two weeks ago. He spent more than a year saving for it as a surprise for his wife. He worked overtime, sometimes weekends, to buy a TV for his young bride. He told me how he stayed behind as his wife left for a shelter to make sure that TV wasn't destroyed. At that moment, he began to sob. The weight of the world all of a sudden became a bit too heavy. That TV to him wasn't just another disposable possession that we all take for granted. It symbolized his love for his wife, his pride in his hard work, and his determination to take control of a situation that was uncontrollable.
So, for the next few weeks I'm not going to worry about the lipstick on the pig. I'm not going to take any trips on the "bridge to nowhere." And, I'm not going to worry about the greedy, granite and gold financial institutions crumbling all around us. I'm going to pray for the thousands of people who wake up everyday and feel that all hope is lost. They need our help.
www.redcross.org
www.salvationarmy.org
Sunday, October 5, 2008 at 10:53PM 
