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Growing up in Southeast Texas, I’m fully aware of hurricane season. I spent my first twenty-nine years of my life in a small town off the Gulf of Mexico.
Hurricane watches, hurricane evacuations, and hurricane landfalls–that is a language I know and understand.
These natural disasters were every bit of my upbringing, and they were near impossible to predict. One thing was for certain, rarely did a storm of hurricane status approach our land gently.
During Harvey, I’ve been watching closely and praying for our friends and their families in Houston–checking every day to ensure everyone is safe. As I’d hear of this need or that, I’d discuss with my husband and determine our donations and contributions from Kansas.
It appeared Hurricane Harvey would miss our hometown on the border of Louisiana and Texas, bordering the Gulf of Mexico. I hate for anyone to endure a hurricane, but it was somewhat a relief to know our family members might miss the eye of the storm this round, seeing how they just rebuilt the city in 2008 due to Hurricane Ike.
Last night Harvey made its appearance over Bridge City, TX. It was quite a downpour. It didn’t seem like anything the city couldn’t endure.
However, Harvey moved on to a different location and gave our community some reprieve. In fact, our home town felt a sense of relief. They could handle this level of the storm’s wrath; it wasn’t as bad as what they had previously experienced.
Then, overnight, it made a second landfall reeking havoc on my home town.
51 inches of rain fall
4 feet of water in many homes
No chance of evacuating.
My husband’s disabled uncle and aunt were trapped in their home with standing water measuring about four feet.
His uncle’s legs do not function properly, and he can move around, at best, using a cane to steady himself. Terrified is an understatement.
Scared.
Helpless.
As the rescue boats got closer, it seemed as if safety was attainable. They would be rescued soon.
But, the boats kept flipping over due to the ferocious wind.
The water was steadily rising.
The boats were unsuccessful time and time again.
Isn’t this the standard? Doesn’t rescue boats save flood victims?
Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, a citizen of the community decided to swim up to the house with floating devices in tow. He rescued my husband’s aunt and uncle.
He saved their lives.
Life has many unexpected storms, and unfortunately, we can’t depend on the “standard” to solve all of our problems. As a district curriculum administrator, I understand the meaning and value behind learning targets and standards of excellence. However, in the REAL scene above, “what had always been done” wasn’t working.
The rescue boats couldn’t withstand the wind. Even though in many circumstances, those same boats saved lives.
This situation needed another solution, and it had to be QUICK!
It needed someone who:
• recalled skills they were taught previously
• used their resources resourcefully
• had courage
• had strength
• had the determination to beat all odds
• showed empathy
• was willing to take a risk
• and was not willing to give up when what had always worked wasn’t working!
It took boldness. It was messy. It wasn’t easy. But lives were saved.
Thank you to the man who didn’t allow the “standard” to dictate your desire to challenge the “norm” and conquer the task at hand.
What you did today outweighs any standard of excellence. You are a HERO! Our hero. Thank you.
Also, from a Kansas girl far away from our family members, thank you to all who stayed back to help others trapped in their homes.
You are HEROES!
Easy.
As a curriculum district administrator, I can’t possibly stress enough how we mustn’t focus only on subject based learning targets! It’s vital that our students are problem solvers, empathetic, brave, risk-takers, determined to beat all odds, and not willing to give up when the boat doesn’t float.
I am an educator who values the individuality and uniqueness of others. Writing the blog R.E.A.L. is an outlet for me to pay it forward by sharing ideas, influences, lessons learned and exposing a little vulnerability while encouraging others to maximize their R.E.A.L. potential, as well.