May 2011

You hear about disasters all the time but I don’t think we can always grasp the size of these events until it personally effects you.

I grew up near Joplin, Missouri and also spent a few years living there. My family still live close and depend on the city for groceries, doctors, etc.

My son was born at the hospital directly hit by the tornado and I lived/worked in the area that is now flat. The whole thing becomes way more real when you have personal attachments. Watching this unfold definitely gives me a new appreciation for the suffering that happens everyday around the world.

Even here in San Diego, I keep reading about people who know someone, grew up there, or in some way has ties to the Joplin area. Because it’s a relatively small area, it’s easy to feel like you are the only one. It really goes to show how close we all really are. Six degrees and all.

My heart breaks for the people who have lost or are still looking for loved ones. This is just one more reminder not to take anything for granted, it only takes seconds for your entire world to change.

Looking for a way to help the victims of this devastating tornado? Visit this page to see a number of ways you can help. Obviously this isn’t the first or the last disaster that will happen in the world, making donations year round to The Red Cross not only supports aid to large disasters but also on smaller scales, such as the victims of house fires.

{ 0 comments }