I’m not sure if everyone is aware of the intense weather pattern that has been hovering over the eastern seaboard, but it certainly has been fierce. We’ve had brilliant lightning, booming thunderstorms, monsoon-like rain, flash flooding, mudslides and more. As a result, the weather has disrupted commutes, closed museums, flooded roads and subway tunnels and knocked out electricity.

Two nights ago, in the midst of a downpour, I returned to my basement apartment to discover two inches of standing water in my kitchen with a steady stream pouring in from underneath of my back door. A flood was not something I was expecting to have to deal with! Fortunately, with the help of a few friends and a borrowed mop, I was able to clear the outside drain and bail most of the standing water off of the floor. Things are starting to dry out now, but there’s a slight smell and things are still damp.

I was thinking about it today, and it hit me that things could have been so much worse. I dealt with just a few inches of water, but there are so many in the Gulf Coast and elsewhere, that experienced (and continue to deal with the effects of) the devastation caused by multiple feet of water. My flash flood seems so insignificant in comparison to the hardships faced by so many in the Gulf region, but it gives me an even greater appreciation for the stories of strength and courage shared by those I’ve met through my travels for Book Relief in Mississippi and Alabama.

I am truly encouraged by the resiliancy and determination of those who are working hard to rebuild and restore what was lost. Thank you for your spirit and example!

Be sure to check out the ‘Storm Stories’ section on the Book Relief Web site to read first hand experiences from those First Book has met in the Gulf Coast.