Bright Ideas

Texas and Louisiana have received too much wind and rain, as much as 51 inches from hurricane Harvey. It left whole flooded communities that are now trying to move back, clean up, and begin reconstruction. Another hurricane, Irma, flattened the Virgin Islands, Bahamas and then did heavy damage in Florida. The Eagle used to have a subscriber in the Virgin Islands; is she still there?

Did flood waters leave mold, bacteria, or dangerous substances requiring masks and suits to protect skin — the kind of suits used for handling hazardous materials? Of course it did.

Mold extrication requires masks and protective clothing. Cleaning up chemicals released from certain factories and plants, requires protective clothing. Home owners and renters were on the receiving end of serious problems. What do they do? Who will help them? Can their faith and spirit carry them through?

Maybe someone official will send help. Of course, cleaning up and rebuilding will take years. Where do they live in the meantime?

Poor countries are already in debt to the USA and need help again. They don't have much “high ground" to escape to; the entire island is only five feet above the normal ocean level. A 10 ft. ocean surge would flood everything. What and who would remain?

In western USA the opposite problem grows. Extended drought continues, and communities are impacted by this. Rural communities like Carter County watch for fires and rely on their volunteer force to answer siren calls. Other forces join in to help adjacent communities. It’s a reciprocal arrangement — you help me and I’ll help you.

Fires burn from California eastward. Firefighting in mountainous areas is difficult to impossible. Aerial attacks are expensive but necessary. Where will the money come from for California to Montana? There are only so many dollars to go around.

I worry about Global Warming. I guess that’s one possibility. Another is cyclical drought. There have been others, and this won’t be the last, but our county has survived. We may have fewer people in Carter County, but we’re a crusty bunch, ready to look forward with a smile and determination.