Our storm woes aren’t that bad
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Dozens of girls wearing expensive dresses and their best smiles would have to wait two days to determine the county’s fairest. It didn’t seem right.
But it didn’t take long for me to snap out of my frenzy, which I believe was partially induced by an overload of cotton candy. Yes, a beauty pageant was being delayed, but that’s a small inconvenience compared to thousands of Americans currently swimming in an ocean of hardship.
Compared to boarding up your home and fleeing for shelter, not being able to ride the Himalaya is a rather small worry. I made sure to remind myself of that fact before I got too emotional about missing a night at the fair.
My problems really aren’t that bad.
For Florida residents, this hurricane season has been especially cruel. As soon as one hurricane rips through the state, another is waiting in line to smash the remaining pieces.
It’s sort of like bringing a beat-up car and a sledge hammer to a fall festival. Students take turns seeing how much damage they can inflict.
Hurricane Ivan landed the latest blow yesterday to the Gulf Coast, killing at least 20 and causing what insurance experts say could approach $10 billion in damages. Thankfully, that was an impact much softer than expected.
Ivan comes after Hurricane Charley and Hurricane Frances have already inflicted between $11 and $13 billion in insurance damage to the southern United States. A total of 34 deaths have been attributed to those two storms.
Personally, I’m extremely grateful I’ve never had to pack up my photo albums, pile in the family car, and drive away from my home not knowing if it would still be standing when I returned. It’s hard to fathom what the people of Florida have endured.
I know of a couple local residents who are headed south today to help with relief efforts. They are among many volunteers who will be constructing a four-acre kitchen capable of feeding thousands.
The fact such a kitchen is needed is an unfortunate sign. It means there are thousands of people displaced from their homes and unable to cook on their own. It also means they might be that way for awhile.
Here in Warren County, the outlook is for two days worth of pounding rain. The county’s usual flood zones are likely to see high water once again. Weather forecasters say it’s possible for 5 to 7 inches to accumulate in this area and up to 11 inches around Knoxville.
What that does to the Tennessee-Florida football game Saturday night is anybody’s guess. If you’re going to Neyland Stadium, it might be wise to bring a rain coat.
At the same time, we should remember it’s just a football game. And if we’re wondering about how a muddy field will affect the Volunteer offense, our problems are simple.
Hurricane Ivan has left 1.5 million people without power in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida. It has claimed lives and created widespread fear. That’s what I remember when I think about a little rain ruining a few days of the Warren County Fair. All things considered, we have come out OK.
James Clark is editor of the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at editor@southernstandard.com.