Thank you to all those outside of Rhode Island who have expressed concern and offered up prayers on our behalf. As I write this blog post, the first blue sky in days is appearing over Hope Valley but the air is also filled with the clatter of National Guard helicopters surveying the damage to our little town. God is good, God is faithful, God is present, God is near even in times of disaster.
Our family is safe and the waters are receding from our basement and my parents’ home. We were all able to get a few hours sleep last night for the first time in days and it was healing. My neighborhood is abuzz with the sound of sump pumps, neighbors helping neighbors and emergency vehicles but the sun is shining for now!
For my household and my parents, this has been a lot of work and there will be much clean-up but we still have jobs and homes. Many in our town will find their homes and businesses condemned or will be without jobs. Please pray for them. My son’s room was destroyed but all he lost is replaceable and he’s got a great attitude about it all.
Pray also for my father who has been the fire chief in Hope Valley for forty-five years and has lived here for almost seventy-five years (since his birth). He has been working non-stop for days coordinating services, pumping out houses and businesses, rescuing people from flooded homes or from cars that slipped into the river and trying to save his two fire stations.
Hope Valley is a volunteer station (only he and one driver are paid) so every truck and every brick have been funded by grants and donations over years and years. They are insured. Pray for the men and the women who provide emergency services in town who now are exhausted but must continue to function. Pray for continued stamina as dams are still threatening to burst and people are still in great need of assistance in hundreds of ways.
As many of you know from the news, Little Rhody has had some of the worst unemployment in the country so this disaster will devastate many and leave even more without work and homeless. Pray for recovery efforts and that people would turn towards God and not away from Him through this trial.
There’s been severe infrastructure damage – roads collapsing, bridges out, dams collapsing – and the water table is at its highest level so even though the rain has stopped for now, flooding and damage will continue for a few days. Pray for people’s strength to be renewed.
Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Thank you all for your love, your prayers and your faithful encouragement! God is good all the time.
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In just a couple of sentences, you defined your father in ways that are inspiring to me: devoted, steadfast, responsible.
I will definitely be holding him up in prayer through this time.
Thank you, Mike. I was just at the fire station and most of the men and women have been working non-stop for four days even as their own homes are flooded. Part of the toll now is that they are stretched so thin and people keep showing up with greater needs, tears, anger, etc, expecting immediate answers. Everyone seems a little shell-shocked this is so unprecedented. I’m really praying for my dad’s heart to hold up under the continued strain. I appreciate your support!
Hi Lori,
I’ve said many prayers for all of you. God bless your father’s compassionate heart and his hard working, honest hands.
Dawn
Continuing to pray for ALL of you.
Hugs, andrea
I’ll keep praying for you guys Lori – I’m glad to hear your bodies are well & you got some rest!
Thank you, Dawn, Andrea and Jennifer. My father is still out and about but I’m praying he’ll come in for some rest tonight. Pray all the emergency crews as they witness the emotional toll of the sadness and heartbreak of hundreds of people.
Praying! I shared your FB message with my Bible Study group on Wednesday night and we prayed together. I’m going to pass this along to them as well so we can continue to pray.
Major props to your son for his attitude and to your father for his dedication. We’ll be praying for you all and for your community. I love the verse you shared.
“Take heart! I have overcome the world!”
Not really a better, more encouraging scripture than that!
Wow, Lori… way down here in Louisiana, I had no idea. Praying for you!
Cheri
Shannon, please tell your prayer group thank you!
Thanks for the prayers, Cheri. We’ve got a long way to go – still pumping water and it’s still coming in – many people still stranded in their homes and NOW some people are flooding other people’s houses by accident by draining their homes! Water, water everywhere. I know you understand.
Glad things are better now. Continuing to pray for you and your family …
Lori: Sounds like Rhode Island was really hit hard. Hang in there. Thinking of you. Fondly, Nancy alias Fancy Nancy
i am a stand in the gap & do what needs to be done person. My heart is heavy for all affected by the floods. I am a RI Native and would love to come & help out in whatever needs to be done. I have a 15 ft Ryder truck and could load it with quality clothing, shoes, jackets and even distribute. I would be driving from colorado. :Please let me know IF i CAN come out. I would leave as soon as you inform me
That’s very kind, Anonymous. Let me know who you are and I’ll check with local churches to see what is needed!