So you may have noticed that it has been quite a few days since my last post. As an East Texan, my mind and heart have been on where I choose to call home. I’m assuming by now, everyone knows that we had a large storm, named Harvey, that dropped a lot of water on part of the state of Texas and some of Louisiana. In that, I find my heart breaking along with all other Texans and many Americans for lives lost here. But my heart also feels gratitude and pride as we watch and become part of neighbors helping neighbors, Texans helping Texans, Americans helping Americans, or just plain humans helping humans.
Even before the storm, several people concerned for my safety reached out and got a hold of me. I let them all know I was okay and would remain that way. As the sun appears, I was and am fortunate that I live far enough north that the effects of Harvey have been minimal for us here. Our neighbors down to the south, not so much. The concern I was shown prompted me to give you some idea of the size and scope of Texas and the storm damage.
According to the Rand McNally Road Atlas 2017, “The Texas land area is two hundred sixty-one thousand two hundred thirty-one (261,231) square miles and population for the state is twenty-five million one hundred forty-five thousand five hundred sixty-one (25,145,561)”. If you were to travel by car, it is approximately eight hundred twenty-three (823) miles from the Louisiana state line, near where I live, on the east side of Texas to the New Mexico state line, near El Paso, on the west end of Texas. It also is eight hundred eighty-six (886) miles from Brownsville, Texas which is nearly the southernmost point, bordering Mexico, to Texhoma, Texas which is the northernmost point, bordering the state of Oklahoma.
When we moved to Texas, we actually learned that the state is also broken down into regions. Most maps list seven regions, but some break those seven regions down to sub regions and show more. I like to keep it simple if possible, so I will only list the seven regions. They are as follows from west to east: Big Bend Country, South Texas Plains, Panhandle Plains, Hill Country, Prairies & Lakes, Piney Woods, & Gulf Coast. Harvey produced some flooding in the region I live, the Piney Woods. Most damage, however, was done in the Gulf Coast region.
This Gulf Coast region is approximately four hundred thirty-seven (437) miles by car from its northernmost point to its southernmost. Unfortunately, Harvey effected two hundred seventy-three (273) or more of those miles. Imagine if you would, if you live on either coast, that two hundred seventy-three (273) is the amount of miles from Huntington Beach, California to Las Vegas Nevada or Boston, Massachusetts to Syracuse, New York. The Gulf Coast region is also home to the largest city in the state of Texas; Houston. Houston’s population alone is approximately two million one hundred thousand (2,100,000) people. But if you consider Harvey’s effect to the entire two hundred seventy-three (273) mile area, you are talking about a population of nearly six million (6,000,000) people sadly.
As my mind tries to digest all these numbers, I try to think of businesses, homes, animals, people, well just lives effected by this storm and possible rain coming. Then I realize we are all effected in some way or another. As with any and all crisis, problems, obstacles, etc. we are all always effected. Sometimes we just cannot see that fact. Sometimes it takes a big storm to rise us to the occasion and to remind us of who we want to be, who we can be, and who we are. In those moments or times if we think we have nothing to offer, please keep in mind that is not the truth. For if the only thing each one of us has to offer is our empathy and/or sympathy, than that is truly a gift, not only worth offering, but surely worth accepting or receiving.
Texas Gulf Coast, like every other place, will heal in time. It may take a very long time, but we will re-access and rebuild. And maybe the lesson that is to be learned, in this storm and all storms, is that we will always continue to need each other and we will always need to be there for each other in spirit and otherwise. So I say thank you to Texas, America, and the world for showing up in the fury of the storm and staying beyond. May we endure this and all other storms together.
I always ask you to leave your thoughts on my posts, and on this post I will do no different. So if you have something to contribute and say please do so.. Texas does want to know you are there..
Wow, to think of the area from Boston to Syracuse blows my mind. The enormity of the damage is almost overwhelming. However, the one thing I found is that I have found hope in the floods. Since the election we have been a country divided. What happened in Charlottesville, Va was scary to me. The amount of hate broke my heart. A storm called Harvey changed the heart of many people. Suddenly we became a nation that had one thought one heart. I watched a Facebook post from Louisiana where the Cajun Navy mobile. In the pouring rain you saw pickup truck after pickup truck hauling their fishing boats to go help with the rescue in Texas. The pickup trucks were loaded with water and other supplies. All with one thought, how can we help. The flooding is awful. But, I find encouragement with the prayers, the thoughts, the desire to help. It seems that it took the flooding to bring the nation together, to show the goodness in people instead of the hate. I hope as the flood waters recede and Texas rebuilds, that people keep the spirit of loving their neighbor. I hope they continue to reach out, help, and love one another. That this common state of compassion remains for many years. I hope people live their life with more gratitude and joy. Maybe it took a flood spreading over 200 miles to remind us to love our neighbor, to lend a hand, to remember, family and people not possessions are what have value. May we keep those thoughts and values long after the memory of the flooding fades.
Thank you for putting it all in perspective. I think it is difficult to phatham the size and scope of this disaster. Giving references we are more familiar with makes it even more real and, frankly, heartbreaking. I am so happy you are safe and praying for all of our friends, relatives, neighbors, acquaintances, and countrymen that have been impacted.