The headline in the Minnesota newspaper that I read online today: “Bush declares disaster areas in three Minnesota counties: Houston, Fillmore and Winona.” Houston county – that would be where Grace’s… I mean our house is (still can’t get used to that). After 10-16 inches of rain fell over 24 hours early this week, hundreds of homes and 6 lives in the area were wiped out in an instant.
I called dad and asked him if he would mind taking a trip over to the house and seeing if it was still there. We were scared to death because, although the house is on a hill, water can easily come rolling down the hill right into the 1st floor! Also, there are countless stories of peoples’ hillside homes being totally obliterated by mudslides.
We were very very blessed and fortunate. No damage what so ever.
Yesterday on the way home from work I caught an interview on NPR of a couple from the same county. Their house, along with several others, was washed away in a few moments along with all their belongings in the world. Like many of the homeowners there who had plenty of insurance for tornados, fire and even earthquakes, the insurance companies will not cover flood damage. They were truly left with nothing in the world but the clothes on their backs and an unpaid mortgage. Sometimes I don’t feel as sorry for people who obviously live in areas of the country that are prone to disasters and build their house there anyway, but this was something nobody ever foresaw.
It’s more sad reminders that you can’t base your life on your things you own. You can’t work your life for your fortunes, because fortunes can be whisked away in an instant. Insurance can help you feel protected, but there’s no protection against many unforeseen disasters.
I don’t mean to sound depressing or grim about it. It’s just a fact to keep in mind to actually life your life better! Live for your passions and for those you love. Live for God and what you believe in.
It’s easy for me to say. Our home is still standing, undamaged. Thank God for that. Fortunately, Grace quite literally “built her house upon a rock!” Also, her home was in a very narrow area that did not receive as much rain as some surrounding areas in the county. Just pure dumb luck.
It’s been a strange week seeing so many pictures on the national news right there from our little home town. If any of my friends from the area are still having water woes, my thoughts and prayers are with you!
I called dad and asked him if he would mind taking a trip over to the house and seeing if it was still there. We were scared to death because, although the house is on a hill, water can easily come rolling down the hill right into the 1st floor! Also, there are countless stories of peoples’ hillside homes being totally obliterated by mudslides.
We were very very blessed and fortunate. No damage what so ever.
Yesterday on the way home from work I caught an interview on NPR of a couple from the same county. Their house, along with several others, was washed away in a few moments along with all their belongings in the world. Like many of the homeowners there who had plenty of insurance for tornados, fire and even earthquakes, the insurance companies will not cover flood damage. They were truly left with nothing in the world but the clothes on their backs and an unpaid mortgage. Sometimes I don’t feel as sorry for people who obviously live in areas of the country that are prone to disasters and build their house there anyway, but this was something nobody ever foresaw.
It’s more sad reminders that you can’t base your life on your things you own. You can’t work your life for your fortunes, because fortunes can be whisked away in an instant. Insurance can help you feel protected, but there’s no protection against many unforeseen disasters.
I don’t mean to sound depressing or grim about it. It’s just a fact to keep in mind to actually life your life better! Live for your passions and for those you love. Live for God and what you believe in.
It’s easy for me to say. Our home is still standing, undamaged. Thank God for that. Fortunately, Grace quite literally “built her house upon a rock!” Also, her home was in a very narrow area that did not receive as much rain as some surrounding areas in the county. Just pure dumb luck.
It’s been a strange week seeing so many pictures on the national news right there from our little home town. If any of my friends from the area are still having water woes, my thoughts and prayers are with you!
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