It seems natural disasters, whether seen coming or suddenly appearing, can be, and usually are, horrific.
I have been in, or seen, the end results of tornadoes, floods and hurricanes in Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Colorado. The recent sudden flooding in the Hill Country of Texas, resulting in the lose of life and property, is unimaginable to those that have never seen something like this. Even for those that have seen disasters like this before, it is still heart wrenching. Hopefully, you are asking yourself, “What can I do to help?” I have a two-step suggestion.
The Texas Hill Country is known for blue bonnets, Blue Bell ice cream, and great fly fishing. By my count, there are 14 rivers and numerous lakes to fly fish. I have floated and waded some of them multiple times. This flood has caused guide services, fly shops, motels, and restaurants to close.
However, having seen previous disasters firsthand, I can tell you the people that have been knocked down by these events always, get back up. They will put their lives and businesses back together. It will be much easier with your help.
For step one: get your fly rod, a copy of “Fly-Fishing the Texas Hill Country, a Guide to Fishing and Lodging on Texas Rivers” by Kevin Hutchison, and head for the Hill Country of Texas.
Once there you will have the opportunity to fly fish for bass, panfish, trout, carp, and maybe a gar. Since it is a long way to Texas I suggest you book three or four days of guided fly fishing. Find a fly shop in the area, there are many, and buy fly fishing “stuff.” Eat and sleep at places above your normal budget level. Tip at a percentage level you consider excessive.
All of those acts will help the local economy as it struggles to get back to normal. By the way, plan on doing this for two or three years. It will take that long for life in the Hill Country to get back to some type of normalcy.
Now, step two. For every day you fly fish, spend a day volunteering your time and talents helping the people affected by this natural disaster. Once the initial surge of people using chain saws and front-end loaders passes there will be a need for lots of help, in all sorts of ways, for a long time.
I’m not particularly handy, in fact, I have been forbidden from operating chain saws. So, some of the ways I have helped at other sites is to hold Sheetrock as someone else nails it into place.
I know pushing a broom as the mud dries in homes and businesses is helpful. Natural disasters have a way of destroying victims means of transportation. Use your car or truck to run errands for those needing it. Sometimes, just sitting quietly with someone who has lost everything near and dear to them is really helpful.
The opportunities are endless, just use your imagination. To find areas to volunteer, stop at any local church. Also, you can check with a Chamber of Commerce or just pull up to a house or business where people are trying to get back to normal. You can be as creative in step two as you were in step one finding places to cast your fly.
Once you have completed steps one and two head to a local bar. Make sure there is a band playing country and western music. Now, spend the evening dancing a Texas two-step. You’ll really enjoy it after following my two step method for helping. I look forward to seeing you on the dance floor.
