Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 10 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Flood recovery starts with community effort
Published Sunday, July 25, 2010
The heartbreak is almost unimaginable, countless memories and mementos have to be tossed aside. The place you call home, your vehicles and years of possessions all must be put to the curb.
That is the situation facing many Lawrence Countians following last week's heavy rains and flash floods. This is a situation that is far too familiar for many residents and far too painful for others.
Fighting flooding and having your home destroyed is something that is not easily recovered from. It is forever in your thoughts, making you always wary of Mother Nature.
Yet this is something that we — as a community — must come together to overcome.
It is easy to say when you aren’t one of those affected, but most of the loss has been material things. Hopefully aid and assistance will be forthcoming for the families who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy that claimed the life of a Franklin Furnace woman.
My heart goes out to this family that is suffering greatly and, unlike those who lost “things,” their loss will never be replaced.
This round of flooding reminds us how insignificant human beings are in the greater scheme of the world and the universe.
Mother Nature makes no distinctions on age, race or socioeconomic status or any other demographic that we use to label ourselves.
If there is a lesson to be learned it is that we must always be vigilant and prepared for disaster.
We cannot live our lives in fear yet we cannot live our lives oblivious to the dangers that natural disasters and man-made disasters can pose.
It is important that everyone analyzes their homeowner’s policies, their automobile insurance policies and also the infrastructure of their homes to be as prepared as possible before disaster strikes.
Even though the floodwaters have receded, many families are still looking to pick up the pieces.
Each of us can do our part by lending a hand, lending an ear, offering financial assistance, or just being there for someone in their time of need.
This will be a difficult time for many as they look to rebuild their lives and rebuild their homes and start over.
It is important that we all remember that we are one community, one family, living in one society.
Even Mother Nature isn’t powerful enough to change that.
Michael Caldwell is publisher of The Tribune. To reach him, call (740) 532-1445 ext. 24 or by e-mail at mike.caldwell@irontontribune.com.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
Posted by ghpah (anonymous) on July 25, 2010 at 1:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice letter Mr. Caldwell, but the tribune needs to go a little further out into the county to see more devestation that has never hit this area before. Travel 5 mile out St. Rt. 93, you should have been out here last Wednesday to see the result of last week's flood, the houses that were lost, the vehicles that were lost. There are more places than a highway with a rock on it, that we have seen and heard of for a week. This too, was devestation right in your front door, was anyone out here to take pictures or to get the story of a group of teens that weren't even from Law. Co. that came into this area to help with clean-up? I didn't seen anyone. That's ok, cause we didn't see anyone from the state or county trying to figure out why this area flooded so badly, did we see our governor in Law. Co.? We hear of how the other states' governor has declared their area a disaster, well, we won't see our governor unless it's for a politcal benefit. It was truly devestating that the family in Franklin Furnace lost a member to the floods, and my heart goes out to them, but had there not been recues on St. Rt. 93, there may have been more than one person lost to floods, bet you didn't know that, did you? It's time to go outside of the box, and see the whole county, not just a piece and keep repeating the same news for a week.
Posted by Kathy (anonymous) on July 25, 2010 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is not repeating the news over for weeks it is called "UPDATES" ! We can also set back here and say 93 may have had flooding but there was not any lives lost in this, so what was the importance of covering it. I am sorry for all that has lost in the flooding and dont wish it on anyone, but you must be pretty heartless to say what you just said in your post ! If you knew Barb personally and the dedicated person she was you wouldnt be on here running at the chops. Rescuers and the county workers cannot be at the same place at one time. They are only human , and they cannot control mother nature.
Thank you Ironton Tribune for all the coverage you have given us on this special woman . She was a true blessing to our community . May you Rest in Peace Barb !
Posted by Fed_Up (anonymous) on July 25, 2010 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My name is Wendy Avery and I just don't understand how someone can get on here and talk about material things lost in that flood, things that can be replaced. Barb Botkins was my very best friend and you have no clue what we went through trying to save her that night you weren't there....WE WERE.. She left behind 4 wonderful children alone with no father and now no mother. Katie is still very young and was very close to her mother and her pain will never go away and her mother can never be replaced. Thats what these rescuers and fire fighters were doing trying to save 11 of us. Hoping and praying that we would find her alive just holding on to something. But no they found her a mile down the road gone from this baby's life forever.
So needless to say you are a heartless piece of work to even say what you said about stupid material things that can be replaced. Thank you Ironton Tribune for keeping this fresh in the minds of all the people that have poured into their lives since this tragedy to help and comfort them in their time of need....She was a wonderful mother, person, helper, and my very best friend.....R.I.P. BARBARA JEAN BOTKINS I love you and you will NEVER be forgotten
Posted by indieVoter (anonymous) on July 25, 2010 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here is why they can Wendy. If there is a story, the Tribune isn't limited to one spot only for it. For example, when the Lawrence County Fair was up and running there were at least 3 or 4 stories here about the fair at any given time. Nobody is taking the loss of a loved one lightly here. It's just that there are others out there who've been hurt and some of these folks don't feel that they "matter" to the tribune since their loss wasn't given the same attention.
Posted by ghpah (anonymous) on July 25, 2010 at 9:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kathy and Wendy, selfishness nor disrespect was meant toward the death of Barb, I too knew her and her family and I truly feel for the family and friends. I can't imagine the devestation. My comment was to be intended toward all the coverage of a stupid rock on the highway, that we have heard for about a week. People in this area were hit hard, we too had a rescue that night, no one could get in here to assist, so the local citizens did the rescue, which was very risky, and thank God, no one was swept away as they waded 3 1/2 of water crossing St Rt 93 to rescue her and back across to get her to safety. It's not the material things comparing to a life, cause there is no camparison. It's the realization that the tribune doesn't want to come out into the county to cover anything more than what is at hand. So if anyone got their feelings hurt, it was not intended to be that way.
Posted by indieVoter (anonymous) on July 25, 2010 at 10:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm putting the following comment here because:
1. This is Mike's spot and I hope he comes here to read the comments.
2. I know this article will be here for at least 5 days
It has come to my attention that there will be a protest at the funeral of Justin Allen this Tuesday afternoon. More specifically, there will be one "anti-war" group protesting and another group there to protest against them.
As someone who has been generally in favor of ending the war as soon as possible and someone who's a supporter of President Obama, I think it's reprehensible that this group is coming into town for this protest. There is NO good reason for EVER protesting at a funeral. The funeral is a time for the family to mourn their loss...period. I want to make it clear that this group does not represent the vast majority of those of us (like me) who support Obama nor do they represent those of us (like Cashmere) who are in favor of ending the war. They are a group who only represent their own narrow views and interests. They show remarkably bad taste for doing what they're going to be doing. I am both angered and saddened by what they will be bringing to our community as I suspect will be the case for the overwhelming majority of Lawrence countians...republicans, democrats and independents.
Additionally, I hope that the tribune comes prepared to write a scathing editorial about this protest when it happens. I also hope that you take care not to associate these people with those of us who live in this community and, as democrats or independents, happen to be supporters of the President. The group of which I'm speaking absolutely does not represent me in any way and I'm confident that I am not alone in this sentiment. Having said that, let 'em have it Mike!
Posted by keta (anonymous) on July 26, 2010 at 12:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's going to be argued before the supreme court this fall. The case is Snyder v. Phelps. The Phelps family are the people who started the protests. Their son, a marine, was killed in combat, and they decided God did it, because he's angry about America's tolerance for homosexuals. They attend military funerals with signs that say "God hates fags" and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers", and other hurtful and obnoxious things. The complainant, Mr. Snyder, had to bury his own soldier son surrounded by lunatics - the Phelps family and others who share their beliefs. The upshot is that the court will decide whether the Phelps's right to free speech trumps grieving families' right to bury their dead in peace. I don't think you need to worry about being identified with these crazies. They're fundamentalist fanatics that nearly everyone agrees probably ought to be shot on sight.
Posted by armymomchris (anonymous) on July 26, 2010 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I belong to SoldiersAngels - my son served in the US Army for 22 years and is now retired. My heart aches for Justin's family. As soon as we find out where the service is on Tuesday, we will try to attend and stand between the protest group and the family. We will be wearing Soldiers Angels, or Wounded Warrior T-shirts. I lost priceless family mementoes, photos and things when the basement flooded. They can't be replaced. But they pale in comparison to the loss of life. God Bless the troops!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by DownSouth (anonymous) on July 30, 2010 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I got a question here... for the past several months I have seen the Governor, congressman and state reps shaking hands and kissing babies all over the county, most of these in photo ops in the Tribune, so now where are they? Not in mud up to their butt helping the people of Lawrence and Scioto county clean up are they or better yet why haven't they applied for disaster funds from the whitehouse to help these people... Guess there isn't enough votes out 93, sorry folks but you might want to consider who you vote for next time...DS
Posted by tigerexpress (anonymous) on July 31, 2010 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The flood really affected us out past the four mile marker first time ever saw it go over Kelly's bridge. I would like to thank all those that dug in and helped to clear out the mess left from this flood. I don't think any of the goverment officials could have done anything to stop the flood from rising when you get up to seven inches of rain in just over three hours.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)