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5/14/2010
Ten souls (including three children) perished in the April 24 tornado outbreak that left at least a 149-mile trail of destruction across central Mississippi. The facts are not all in at this writing, but it is certain that this enormous EF-4 monster will make history.
Hundreds who survived the storm lost their home or business or church. Reporters swarmed into the stricken areas to get their accounts. These folks are not complaining about the loss of material things that can be replaced; they are expressing gratitude for the survival of their loved ones. To them, nothing is more important.
For the second time in less than five years, the national media is covering a major natural disaster in Mississippi. The world is seeing once again how we do things in Mississippi: We pick each other up and give thanks to God for our lives.
Reporters—who repeatedly remarked on the victims’ positive attitudes—relayed stories of people coming together to help each other, in all the counties affected. People checked on their neighbors immediately after the storm’s passage and dug through debris to search for victims. Volunteers organized to cut up fallen trees, share food and water, and relay information among family members.
Within hours of the storm, churches all over the state began collecting emergency supplies to truck into the stricken areas.
Electric power associations throughout the state reacted with offers of emergency crews for the three electric power associations in the direct path of the storm. Winds estimated at more than 165 mph mangled power lines and snapped utility poles as if they were toothpicks.
National coverage of natural disasters sometimes seems to dwell on conflicts, looting and general bad behavior. But you can’t tell me that’s the norm in Mississippi. At times like this, we should be proud we live in a state with the values these latest storm victims have demonstrated.
Mississippi truly is one big community. We come together to help one another in times like this. The desire to help is ingrained, like an automatic response in each of us regardless of gender, age or race. And it’s how we are raised. When Mississippians need help, Mississippians are the first to pitch in.
While we feel deep sympathy for the families of the 10 whose lives were lost, the overall response of our people to the disaster makes me proud to be a Mississippian.
