May 18 – “Hurricane Preparedness”

The beginning of hurricane season is not far away.  Always a wonderful time of year to live on a small island off the coast of Texas.  Time to pull out the traveling file box for important papers.  I guess we also need to get a new stack of plastic tubs as well.  The ones we used to pack up our photo albums have all been appropriated for use in storing salvaged junk up in the attic.  Wait.  Salvaged treasures.  Chris will probably read this.    It's not nearly as difficult to develop a "hurricane list" since Hurricane Ike.  Mainly because we learned that the only thing that really needs to be on it is important papers and photo albums (and maybe the baseball card collection).  We already know where we would evacuate to.  The location has changed, but it's still Josh's house.  Just San Antonio instead of Mansfield.    I just read in the paper that the annual hurricane preparedness workshop for Galveston is being held tonight at the convention center.  Hurricane preparedness.  That reminds me of one of those biblical words that has one pronunciation in the Bible and another in normal life usage.  Like "blessed."  They even have a big demonstration beforehand by the Galveston Marine Response Group.  That's code for the fire department, the police marine division, the Galveston Island Beach Patrol, and Jamaica Beach Fire Rescue.  I guess the GMRG is easier to remember than GFDGPDGIBPJBFR.  They're going to simulate a mass casualty scenario.  I'll have to ask Nathan if he's in it this year.  Wonder how you get to volunteer to be a casualty?   I'll have to inform my friend David about the activities.  He grew up in Galveston, but he lives in Arkansas now.  He and his wife and dogs are in town for a vacation this week.  I'm sure watching a mass casualty scenario will be just the ticket for a romantic evening at the beach.  No need to thank me, Michelle.   Proverbs 3:25-26 says, "Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared."   Father, thank you once again for the peace and assuredness that makes it possible to be calm in the face of potential disasters.  Amen.