Staring down the monster

"Do we have the resources, the grit to handle the aftermath of two deadly storms back-to-back? This will test our nation's mettle for sure. To minister to the hurting, to make people whole again once they have lost everything - this will be an all-hands-on deck effort."

Then all of a sudden, there it was. In the Gulf of Mexico. A tropical disturbance. Then it seemed like overnight, it went from a disturbance to a storm to a Cat 1 hurricane. But wait - we are still reeling from the effects of Hurrican Helene, which was also a Gulf storm. But this storm is different. It is acting almost as if it were animated. It has grown in strength and ferocity. Cat 1, then Cat 2, then Cat 3 than Cat 4. And now it is a Cat 5 and taking aim at the midsection of Florida. 

Wait. Come on Mother Nature - this is just not fair! We still have mounds of debris from the 6' surge which came with Hurricane Helene. But Mother Nature just scoffed. Fair? I will show you fair she replied. I will double that horrible surge from Helene and give you a 12-to-15-foot surge. Now things got really serious, real fast. The mayor of Tampa Bay warned her residents about this predicted surge coming with Hurricane Milton - "If you stay here, you will die". Not you might die, but you will die.

Many heeded the warnings and packed up their cars and hit the evacuation routes. Shelves in many stores were stripped bare and gasoline became hard to get. The lines of cars in all lanes of the evac routes went on just about forever. But some folks stayed. They decided they are going to face down the monster. To those few, all we can give them now is our prayers. Tonight, will be a night like no other. 

This storm Milton is so strong, and so big, it will still be a Cat 1 storm once it is through Florida and then on the Atlantic side. There will still be a storm surge (although not as big) on the Atlantic side. What most already know but are not talking about, will the aftermath of this storm. The search and rescue, tragically turning into search and recovery. The massive, almost statewide power outages. The months of cleanup and the loss of important services. For Florida to get back to "normal" will take a long, long time.

Do we have the resources, the grit to handle the aftermath of two deadly storms back-to-back? This will test our nation's mettle for sure. To minister to the hurting, to make people whole again once they have lost everything - this will be an all-hands-on deck effort. But it is the people who really have our hearts tonight. With the exception of the memories they contain, every possession is replaceable. People are not. May God be with Florida tonight.