Disaster unlike any we have ever seen in our collective lifetimes is bringing hardship and heartache to our neighbours to the north.
Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Gulf Coast Monday causing widespread flooding and destruction.
As those hit hardest by the storm begin the arduous task of cleaning up hundreds of bodies are being uncovered in rubble and found as flood waters recede.
It’s getting worse on a daily basis.
As we watch in horror and awe the un-relentless television coverage of death and destruction, we are all reminded of Hurricane Ivan, which dealt a heavy blow to the Cayman Islands.
Our hearts go out to those who are trying to overcome Katrina.
Many of us have family and friends all along the Gulf Coast, from Texas to Florida.
And many of us venture up that way ourselves from time to time, either to visit or shop.
While the Cayman Islands is still recovering from its own disaster, each of us needs to take a look around and see just how well off we have it compared to those suffering in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
Our Leader of Government Business has already made the generous offer of assistance to the governors of those states.
For that, Mr. Tibbetts, we thank you.
We should all adopt Mr. Tibbetts’ spirit of altruism.
As you leaf through the pages of this edition of the Caymanian Compass you will find on page 15 a listing of agencies that are accepting aid for Hurricane Katrina victims.
Take a good look at these organizations. You may agree with the platforms of some and not of others.
But you can surely find at least one agency you trust to work with to find a way to help those hurting from Katrina.
After Ivan many of us benefited from our friends and family in those Gulf States as they sent down generators, batteries, clothes and care packages.
It’s time for us to reciprocate.
We must also take a good hard look at what Katrina has done to one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
We must remember Ivan and remain ever vigilant in our fight against horrific storms like the one that struck us in September and the caller this August to the United States.
We’ve still got eight weeks of hurricane season remaining. If you haven’t gotten your supplies ready, do it now.
We can be sure that many along the US Gulf Coast regret today that they didn’t heed evacuation advice and that they weren’t fully prepared.
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