Is anyone else a tad freaked out by the natural disasters that are happening everywhere? I’m no geologist but it makes sense to me that when there’s major seismic activity in one place, it will likely affect the earth all over for quite a while. I won’t even recap but 2010 began with the earthquake in Haiti.

I have a friend who lives with her family in Nashville. I really felt silly calling the first day thinking, “Nashville’s a big city, she probably hasn’t been affected directly.” When I didn’t get in touch with her, I figured, she and her husband are both physicians and are likely working extra as “first responders” or something.  I finally got in touch with her tonight and it turns out her hospital was flooded and they couldn’t even work. She was lucky that only her garage was flooded but many of her neighbors lost everything. She was clearly shell-shocked and really couldn’t even begin to describe the devastation but emphasized that she was blessed and was just in a mode to try to do what she could to help where possible.   She did mention that people were criticizing the media for making such a big deal about Opryland but she said that it’s the largest employer in Nashville next to the hospitals so it is a big deal.

I feel pretty helpless.

But seriously, what’s going on? I don’t think it’s possible to prepare for events like this. She’s a serious camper and even she said they were running out of food after 2 days. I remember when a second snow storm came after the big blizzard of 2010 and the shelves in the stores were eerily scant. Scary.

I wonder what would happen if we had a national rather than a regional disaster. I don’t think it would be pretty. She thought quickly to get cash and could only get a $100. The guy who gave it to her at the bank warned her that nobody would likely be able to make change for it but she took it anyway. I’ve always wondered whether cash would have value in the aftermath of a major catastrophe. I’m thinking not. Bottled water, food and bandages or other medical supplies would likely be more valuable.

Just had to rant a little. It’s what’s on my mind tonight. Please pray for the people of Nashville. It’s a city full of real people, not just country music stars and historic theaters.