Hurricane Aftermath

My daily devotions in Jesus Calling have been focused on thankfulness–not unusual for November, when we set aside a day of Thanksgiving for our Nation. It’s not difficult to be thankful when things go well, but what about when they go bad? God’s word directs us to thank Him in ALL circumstances.

On October 29, that principle was tested, when Hurricane Sandy slammed the East Coast.

I lived on Long Island for thirty-five years, experiencing hurricanes often. We didn’t live right ON the water, but still had rain and wind. My home was never flooded, but trees went down and power went out.

This hurricane was different--a perfect confluence of events that resulted in a huge, powerful storm.

According to an article in the Washington Post, dated 11/2/12, even though Sandy was only a Category 1 hurricane, it contained more total energy than Katrina at landfall. Check this graphic.

Sandy caused family and friends to lose their homes. Many didn’t have insurance and cannot rebuild. No one expected it to be as bad as it was. Predictions are just that, and people have "ridden out" hurricanes before. They’ve even held parties during such storms.


Sandy

 As often happens after disasters, someone has to be blamed, whether it’s the government, global warming/cooling, industrialization, fanatics, or God. Insurance companies refer to natural disasters as "Acts of God," so there you go. When things go bad, it’s God’s fault. He gets the blame. When things are good, however, we tend to take the credit for that ourselves.

Regarding hurricanes, a friend suggested that some of the worst storms have occurred since 2000, blaming global warming. I did a little research, and it turns out that how you measure "worst" determines the list. Most destructive? Most deadly? There are scores of lists (google it and see) with variations, but the same names come up repeatedly.

Here’s a list of the most powerful hurricanes to make landfall in the U. S. according to epicdisasters.com. Notice the dates.

1. The Great Labor Day Storm, September 2, 1935, Florida, Category 5
It caused 423 deaths in Florida. It also was notable for providing the setting for the Humphrey Bogart - Lauren Bacall movie, Key Largo.2. Hurricane Katrina, August, 2005, Louisiana, Mississippi, Category 5
Second most intense storm to hit the US, as well as the most costly, and the third deadliest.3. Hurricane Camille, August 17 - 22, 1969, Mississippi, Louisiana, Virginia, Category 5
Winds thought to exceed 200 mph.4. Hurricane Andrew, August 24 - 28, 1992, Florida, Louisiana, Category 4 when it hit Florida
5. Unnamed Hurricane, August 29, 1886, Indianola, Texas, Category 4
Turned Indianola into a ghost town. The Court House lies 300 ft. out in Matagorda Bay.6. The Atlantic-Gulf Hurricane, Florida, Texas, September 10-14, 1919, Category 4
7. San Felipe-Okeechobee Hurricane, September 16-17, 1928, Florida, Category 4
8. Hurricane Donna, September 8-13, 1960, Florida to New England, Category 4
9. Unnamed Storm, September 30, 1915, New Orleans, Louisiana, Category 4.
10. Hurricane Carla, September 11, 1961, Texas, Category 4.

Smithsonian magazine online, 10/29/12, posted NOAA’s list of most damaging:

1. Hurricane Camille
2. Hurricane Donna: Notably, Donna holds the record for sustaining hurricane status for 17 days.
3. Lake Okeechobee Hurricane (second most deadly)
4. Cuba-Florida Hurricane (1944)
5. The Great New England Hurricane (1938)
6. Hurricane Andrew
7. 1915 Galveston Hurricane
8. 1900 Galveston Hurricane - known as the greatest natural disaster ever to strike the US.
9. Hurricane Katrina
10. The Great Miami Hurricane (1926), Category 4, destroyed Miami


Katrina

A list of the deadliest hurricanes includes the two Galveston storms, others that took place in the first half of the 20^th century, and Katrina.

A list of the 10 costliest storms since 1900 (adjusted for inflation) include the two Galveston storms, again, Andrew and Katrina, and Sandy at No. 6. So are storms getting worse or not?

Natural disasters occur everywhere. The East Coast has hurricanes. The Midwest experiences tornadoes. California shakes with earthquakes. We live on a broken planet, literally. Ever heard of Plate Tectonics? When you think about it, and I have, no place is truly safe. Northern latitudes have snow and ice. Southern climes have poisonous snakes and insects. Populated places have more crime, while wild areas are home to, well, wild animals.

I live in a condominium, which is a community in which all homeowners have an equal share in the common areas and the responsibilities and burdens of maintenance. We don’t have earthquake insurance. (We did, but that’s another story.) Some residents are trusting that, since we’ve never experienced a devastating earthquake in this part of Simi Valley, we never will, and therefore shouldn’t invest in insurance. They would rather save $20-$30 per month and go with the odds. At a recent HOA meeting, a man asked an insurance representative what the odds were that we would suffer a quake that would result in expensive losses. As you might expect, the agent said that if he knew that, he’d be winning in Vegas.

My point is that you cannot predict Acts of Nature adequately enough so as to negate the necessity for insurance. I trust God, but I want to be a good steward of that which He gives me, nevertheless, events will occur.
　

My mother did not expect four feet of water in her ground floor apartment. She didn’t expect that her refrigerator would fall on its back, her china closet collapse, and her clothing get soaked with smelly water from the canal. My uncle did not expect that brackish water would flood the lower level of his split-level home, requiring walls, flooring and ceilings to be replaced, along with appliances and furniture.

And even if I have insurance for my possessions, you cannot put a price on the emotional damage. When our lives are going well, our homes are warm, our stomachs full, we often don’t see the need for God. But in the midst of storms, floods, earthquakes and acts of war, mankind will cry out to God.

So how can I remain thankful at such a time as this? Why did God let it happen? I ask myself. I’m sure that many people are asking the same question. After all, He is all powerful, all knowing. Why didn’t He stop the storm? While we’re at it . . . why did He allow those planes to hit the World Trade Center buildings or let my loved one die?

I don’t have all the answers, and a blog may not be the best place to outline what the Scriptures say about that, but my experience has taught me that nothing is lost in God’s economy. He has used the tough stuff to draw me close to Him. I choose to draw closer to Him and trust Him with my life no matter what happens. Because that's the only place wherein I can have peace.