Whew!
We made it.
It’s been a year since Hurricane Ivan came knocking on our shores.
Try as we did to shut him out, our efforts were to no avail.
This most unwelcome visitor threatened us with death and destruction. In his wake, Ivan left two dead and an island’s people faced with vast destruction and the long, hard road of rebuilding.
But through adversity, much was learned.
We saw it as the island braced for the anticipated onslaught of Hurricane Emily earlier this year when vehicle owners moved their motorized carriages to higher ground.
Cayman businessman Jim Robertson had the unenviable task of putting into place his Ivan-provided knowledge while taking care of himself, his new bride and 19 of their friends at his home in Diamondhead, Mississippi, as Katrina ripped through the Gulf Coastal states of the United States.
Ivan taught him where to look for fresh water.
Ivan taught him how to best utilize the pool in his back yard.
Ivan taught him how to rig a shower.
Ivan taught all of us much.
As we reflect on the storm that ravaged the Cayman Islands, and Grand Cayman in particular, we have to give thanks and praise that our God that our lives were spared.
Those of us who were at first complacent about Ivan quickly realized the gravity of the situation and got in to gear.
Unfortunately many of our neighbours to the north, especially in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Mississippi Gulf Coastal towns of Bay St. Louis and Waveland didn’t realize the gravity of Katrina’s wrath.
Today they are still harvesting a grim crop of death and destruction.
The United States government just yesterday sent 25,000 body bags to the Gulf Coast region. No one knows yet how high the body county will go.
There but by the grace of God go we.
We indeed have much to be thankful for a year after Hurricane Ivan unleashed his fury on the Cayman Islands.
We know that the lessons learned from that storm and those unfolding in the United States will give us more and better ammunition to survive the next major storm.
We can’t stop Mother Nature, but we can make sure we’re prepared to take on her onslaughts.
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