Sending Prayers
Hello
wonderful readers,
I had
composed something earlier last week for this week’s blog post, but I have
decided to save that for another time due to national news that has influenced
me to write on this topic. There is a lot going on around the world, and in
hopes of remaining as unbiased as possible, I would like to take time this week
to discuss something that is going on not too far from where I call home.
Natural disasters have been consuming our news and our hearts for the past
several weeks. Hurricane Harvey has already struck Texas, and hurricane Irma,
Jose, and Katia are occurring as I type this. These storms have and continue to
affect hundreds of thousands of people and their families. If you, or anyone
you know is affected by any of these storms, my hearts goes out to you. ❤
Instead of a #MsMinimalistChallenge for
week four, I would like to do a different type of challenge. Instead of getting
rid of an item(s), the challenge this week is to list ten blessings in your
life and spend a little extra time with your loved ones.
I want to
use this platform this week to serve as a moment of silence and education for
those who are lucky enough to be reading.
Hurricane
Harvey: Texas
-Harvey then made landfall in south-central Texas late Aug. 25 as a Category 4 hurricane, threatening millions of residents with 130-mph winds, heavy rains, and a massive storm surge that swamped coastal areas.
-Harvey made landfall again Aug. 30 over
Port Arthur, Texas, and western Louisiana, bringing widespread catastrophic
flooding. While authorities and first responders handled as many as 10,000
rescue missions around Houston, Texas, at least 30,000 people
fled to temporary shelters.
- Still alive a week after making landfall
over Rockport, Texas, Harvey continued to dump large amounts of rain and gust
35 mph winds while traveling northeast through Tennessee and Kentucky before dissipating.
- A week after Hurricane Harvey made
landfall in the Houston area, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said it may cost as much as $180 billion to rebuild the state, which would make it the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Hurricane Katrina currently holds that title.
- Although Harvey’s damage is still being
assessed, so far close to 94,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed in the historic flooding and up to a million cars have been wrecked. The official death toll sits at 70, according to local city and county
officials.
- FEMA Administrator William Long told the
Weather Channel he anticipates at least 450,000 people will need emergency
assistance. Hundreds of thousands of students are also out of school until mid-September.
- Since the storm hit, more than 24.5 trillion gallons of rain have inundated the region. Some parts of Houston
received more than 50 inches of rainfall — so much that the National Weather Service had to update the colors it uses on its weather charts to properly account for
it.
- People returning to flooded areas and
those who remained also face health hazards related to polluted air,
contaminated water, infected wounds, mold, contagious diseases, carbon
monoxide, and mosquitoes.
Hurricane Irma: Cuba, Barbuda, St. Martin,
Puerto Rice, US Virgin Islands, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina-What we
know thus far
-Irma, the longest
hurricane on record at this intensity, is forecast to remain a Category Five
storm until Saturday
-According to meteorologist Eric Holthaus,
Irma's power is so staggering that it is registering on seismometers, the
instrument used to measure the intensity of an earthquake.
-Irma isn't alone. The monstrous hurricane is joined by two smaller storms, hurricanes Katia and Jose, which are currently moving westward of the Atlantic Ocean.
-Hurricane Irma is over 400 miles
across-that’s bigger than Ohio.
-Winds could reach up to 215mph
(www.indy100.com/article/7-alarming-facts-hurricane-irma-harvey-7937626 )
(www.indy100.com/article/7-alarming-facts-hurricane-irma-harvey-7937626 )
Hurricane Jose: Florida, Georgia, Mexico, and the Caribbean
Islands-what we know thus far
-Hurricane Jose strengthened to an "extremely
dangerous" Category 4 storm Friday, with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph
-Jose is expected to produce rain accumulations of 2 to 4 inches in
portions of the Leeward Islands, adding the storm may cause additional
"life-threatening flooding." Jose is expected to produce up to an
inch of additional rainfall on Anguilla through Saturday evening.
Hurricane Katia: Florida, Georgia, Mexico, and the Caribbean
Islands-what we know thus far
-A third hurricane, Katia, is threatening Mexico's Atlantic coast and could affect more than a million people in Veracruz state
-A third hurricane, Katia, is threatening Mexico's Atlantic coast and could affect more than a million people in Veracruz state
-Hurricane
Katia made landfall north of Tecolutla, Mexico according to the National
Hurricane Center’s 11 p.m update Friday. The storm had weakened substantially
prior to landfall, with peak winds of 75 mph down from 105 mph earlier Friday.
-Meanwhile,
the peak winds of Hurricane Katia, centered over the southwest Gulf of Mexico,
had reached 100 mph — making it a Category 2 hurricane. It is expected to make
landfall along Mexico’s Gulf Coast Friday night.
-“Katia is
expected to produce total rain accumulations of 10 to 15 inches over northern
Veracruz, eastern Hidalgo, and Puebla,” the Hurricane Center said. “Isolated
maximum amounts of 25 inches are possible in northern Veracruz, eastern
Hidalgo, Puebla, and San Luis Potosi. This rainfall will likely cause
life-threatening flash floods and mudslides, especially in areas of mountainous
terrain.”
One beautiful thing that has come out of
this disaster is how many people have come together and donated to help those
affected. J.J. Watt is not only an amazing NFL football player, but also an
amazing activist, (plus he’s from my home state, so what’s not to love about
him!). J.J. Watt was able to raise $31 million in hurricane Harvey relief as of
Sunday, September 10, 2017. Click here to donate.
Watching famous athletes, actors, actresses, spokes persons, etc. use their
fame to help those in need is a something many people hold opinions on. My
husband and I were driving and he asked me my opinion on celebrities raising
money for foundations or charities. I responded by saying if their intentions
are wholehearted and the money goes to individuals in need, then I am all for
it. I believe this is an act of true selflessness. Using fame and popularity
for good and to help others shows that people we look up to are using their God
given talents for good.
I know this week has been a different type
of post, but I wanted to take the time and use this platform to send prayers,
light, and loving energy to those affected. Know you are not alone and together
we will rebuild from this natural disaster.
With love from Wisconsin. ❤
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