State of Emergency

Seems our little town of Duncan made national news this week after it was reported we were in a state of local emergency. With all the rain we've had this month the rivers have struggled to drain into the ocean (especially at high tide) resulting in massive flooding. Over 300 families were forced to evacuate after water entered their homes without knocking and put up its feet. Old men raged against the irresponsible municipality for not somehow preventing this while others wept over floating photos and the reality of the words - no flood insurance.

Meanwhile, the rest of Duncan continued on as usual, some having no idea their home town was in a state of emergency until turning on the news that evening or breaking in front of the newly formed blockade. That was us. Sitting in our living room with scenes of flooding waters and floating homes on the TV and the dawning realization"hey, we live in that town." One of the flooded images showed the school across the street from our brother Jordan's apartment so we rang him up to let him know the chances of him surviving the night were likely lower then normal. Turns out he wasn't even aware of the flood, after all its "way across the street", but just to be safe he hung out with us for the evening. The good news is, the waters have begun to subside and even if they return they'll have sand bags and determined citizens to contend with. Still, its weird to think we were living in a state of emergency and didn't even know it. It makes me think this is probably the way life was for the first 15,000 years that humans walked the earth. Emergency loomed everywhere but nobody knew it until tragedy took over the living room. In this way, I guess I'm thankful for media. Some things are worth knowing.

John

P.S. Happy Birthday Dad. Party like its 1936.