Losing Electricity Does Not Make You Powerless.

I said in my previous post that I would write about the metaphoric value of the ice storm which knocked out (and continues to knock out) power to hundreds of thousands in this State. Thankfully, my power came back on Thursday morning. I was without for about 42 hours.

The easy metaphor is to say that we get so established into our routines, that it takes a disruption, sometimes on a small, sometimes on a large and even catastrophic scale, to wake us up and really test our mettle.

Another is to say that some people really think that they are in total control of their lives and a disaster comes along to make them realize that there are more powerful forces, and we humans possess tremendous hubris.

I believe these are true statements, and as a religious person, I do believe that the Almighty does send challenges and reveals whose gameboard we are really playing on.

However, I have re-thought the idea of being “Powerless.”

Clearly, we have never experienced an ice storm like this in Oklahoma’s major metropolitan areas (Oklahoma City or Tulsa); however, that is not to say that we did not have advanced notice to prepare.

• Whether the responsibility of individuals or OG&E (our electric company), there were many tree branches that were susceptible to taking out a powerline in a wind or ice storm that could have been trimmed during the year. In other places, powerlines have been buried underground and were not susceptible to wind or ice.

• Our local weather stations looked at their radars and told us what was coming and about when it would arrive. However, with weather being so unpredictable, we’ve had our share of dire weather forecasts that fizzled out or didn’t happen, so that many just don’t take the warnings seriously.

• Resources existed to let us know what sorts of items to buy for home and automobile to prepare. (I messed up on that one. I should have bought more candles). Some people heeded those, and many bought or already had generators, firewood, etc.

It seemed to me that many people who lost electricity stuck it out in the dark & cold at night because they were afraid or too proud to ask friends for a place to stay or avail themselves of the shelter set up in our convention center. There were many who stuck it out of fear because they were paranoid about thieves breaking into their homes.

On the other hand, there were countless acts of inspiring compassion. Family and friends opened up their homes; neighbors knocked on the doors of neighbors, particularly the elderly to make sure they were okay; self-less people who were fortunate enough to retain electricity rolled up their sleeves and helped clear branches or served food at shelters.

Losing electricity simply doesn’t make you ‘Powerless.’

There were opportunities to lessen or even prevent the effect of a potential ice storm. There were instructions of how to prepare for being left without electricity. There were people willing to help and open their homes: some with initiative and some upon asking; there were those who trusted and believed that if they were to take shelter they and their pets and belongings would be fine; and there were those who were spared the disruption who actively sought and selflessly gave help to help those in need.

The point is that there are always opportunities to act before, during, and after a disaster. More action ultimately results in less suffering.

That, I think, is the biggest lesson of all.

Louis (“Lazar”) Green