A Last Look
It has been about a week since our return from Waveland. For myself, this was a second deployment, thus a chance to observe the progress that had been made, and an opportunity to see people with whom I had the chance to make a personal connection with.
Since my return I've taken the time to process the experience. I've kept up with the new postings on the blog and viewed the pictures that I took. I've taken the time to sit and think about everything. I've shared the experience by talking to friends and family.
For myself, the success of the mission could never have been achieved without the combined effort of the SMAT team and the MED-1 unit. Each provided a wonderful compliment to each other. Without the one, the other would have had difficulty being as effective as we were as a whole.
I have thought about whether this experience has made me a better person. It has allowed me to be more aware of things in my life. I've appreciated all that I have and all that I do not much more. I've noticed that certain things that use to irritate me are not as important any more. However, it has become more difficult for me to accept certain things. I'm not as tolerant of behavior and attitudes that are selfish and narrow-minded. At the same time, I feel a greater amount of empathy for those who hurt, thus am more dedicated in doing what I can to help alleviate their suffering.
During my conversations with others at the camp, we struggled to find a word that could properly encapsulate the entire situation we found ourselves in. It is difficult to share this with others without the proper vocabulary. One could use words such as disaster, catastrophe, a big mess, or simply tragedy. Yet, despite the innate power these words hold, they still seem to fall short of accurately capturing the essence of what we went through.
On our last day a police officer, who, himself lived in Waveland, came in for treatment. He shared with us his loss. He told me that his home is 'gone', and what seemed to upset him most was the loss of an award that he received four days prior to the hurricane that named him as officer of the year. He quickly turned the conversation to the work he and his fellow officers were responsible for. He told me how they all made it through, despite being swept out windows and doors when the wave came. He told me that they were sleeping in tents and working twelve hours shifts, and how they were looking out for each other. For himself and his fellow officers, the time to fully mourn their personal losses will have to wait. They have a duty to perform, part of which is to provide support and comfort to their neighbors.
We talked about demobilization and how it will impact the community. There were concerns raised of whether they, Waveland and Hancock Hospital, were ready to take on the enormous task ahead. The impression shared by those who lived in the community was another cause for our concerns. Physical structures are easily repaired, but those other things that bind us to each other are not as easily mended.
Several of us have made plans to return to Waveland in a few months, and some in five years. We are all anxious and curious to see what will have happened to this town that we all came together at. We hope to reconnect with the people whom we were fortunate enough to have shared this moment with.
Waveland and the hurricane that destroyed it will be a moment in time. The experience will be captured and crystallized in the stories, photographs, and memories of those who shared it.
For myself I take these away from my time at Waveland and Camp K-mart ( aka Camp Katrina, Camp Mississippi, or K-mart General).
1. Everyone who had the chance to be involved in this great effort (in any way whatsoever) should be proud. We were part of history and we can and should remember it.
2. SMAT and MED-1 will be vital parts of any future missions. We need to take the time to learn as much as we can, so that any future deployments will not need to go through the initial difficulties we had.
3. Others may choose to describe this episode in their own way, the word I choose is catharsis.
The waters that washed away so many lives and homes has without doubt caused immense devastation. It has, however, brought with it a chance to re-build, re-assess, re-direct, and re-value our lives.
JDM
Since my return I've taken the time to process the experience. I've kept up with the new postings on the blog and viewed the pictures that I took. I've taken the time to sit and think about everything. I've shared the experience by talking to friends and family.
For myself, the success of the mission could never have been achieved without the combined effort of the SMAT team and the MED-1 unit. Each provided a wonderful compliment to each other. Without the one, the other would have had difficulty being as effective as we were as a whole.
I have thought about whether this experience has made me a better person. It has allowed me to be more aware of things in my life. I've appreciated all that I have and all that I do not much more. I've noticed that certain things that use to irritate me are not as important any more. However, it has become more difficult for me to accept certain things. I'm not as tolerant of behavior and attitudes that are selfish and narrow-minded. At the same time, I feel a greater amount of empathy for those who hurt, thus am more dedicated in doing what I can to help alleviate their suffering.
During my conversations with others at the camp, we struggled to find a word that could properly encapsulate the entire situation we found ourselves in. It is difficult to share this with others without the proper vocabulary. One could use words such as disaster, catastrophe, a big mess, or simply tragedy. Yet, despite the innate power these words hold, they still seem to fall short of accurately capturing the essence of what we went through.
On our last day a police officer, who, himself lived in Waveland, came in for treatment. He shared with us his loss. He told me that his home is 'gone', and what seemed to upset him most was the loss of an award that he received four days prior to the hurricane that named him as officer of the year. He quickly turned the conversation to the work he and his fellow officers were responsible for. He told me how they all made it through, despite being swept out windows and doors when the wave came. He told me that they were sleeping in tents and working twelve hours shifts, and how they were looking out for each other. For himself and his fellow officers, the time to fully mourn their personal losses will have to wait. They have a duty to perform, part of which is to provide support and comfort to their neighbors.
We talked about demobilization and how it will impact the community. There were concerns raised of whether they, Waveland and Hancock Hospital, were ready to take on the enormous task ahead. The impression shared by those who lived in the community was another cause for our concerns. Physical structures are easily repaired, but those other things that bind us to each other are not as easily mended.
Several of us have made plans to return to Waveland in a few months, and some in five years. We are all anxious and curious to see what will have happened to this town that we all came together at. We hope to reconnect with the people whom we were fortunate enough to have shared this moment with.
Waveland and the hurricane that destroyed it will be a moment in time. The experience will be captured and crystallized in the stories, photographs, and memories of those who shared it.
For myself I take these away from my time at Waveland and Camp K-mart ( aka Camp Katrina, Camp Mississippi, or K-mart General).
1. Everyone who had the chance to be involved in this great effort (in any way whatsoever) should be proud. We were part of history and we can and should remember it.
2. SMAT and MED-1 will be vital parts of any future missions. We need to take the time to learn as much as we can, so that any future deployments will not need to go through the initial difficulties we had.
3. Others may choose to describe this episode in their own way, the word I choose is catharsis.
The waters that washed away so many lives and homes has without doubt caused immense devastation. It has, however, brought with it a chance to re-build, re-assess, re-direct, and re-value our lives.
JDM
posted by UNC Hospitals | 2:20 PM
1 Comments:
Blog hopping. Have a great day ahead.
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