“A wall of water is a frightening thing.  Few of us in Southern Missouri have been so unfortunate as to see one in person, but we all know from the floods along the Mississippi River what devastation water can wreak. 

 

So imagine with me for a moment not the flood of a river, but the flood of an entire ocean. 

 

This, sadly, was the case in Southeast and Southern Asia last week.  We have all seen the terrifying images of water sweeping men, women, and children to their deaths.  Television has shown us the wreckage of a flood on a scale I still cannot comprehend.  Enough lives were lost to fill the 15,000 seat Mizzou Arena ten times over.  The loss of life from this natural disaster is more than 50 times greater than that of September 11th.

 

Some individuals would call us stingy or cast us as an indifferent people.  That is the pretend America of their selfish dreams, and such remarks are as arrogant as they are ignorant.  But there is no time to argue when a half a continent is in need. 

 

I am proud of the way America, our government and our people, has leapt to help the countries affected by the disaster.  Not only have we provided immediate aid, we have also taken the time to assess how our resources can best help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami.  A reckless wave of money can do the same damage as a tidal wave of water if it is not channeled in the proper way.

 

We are always quick to help when other nations face times of tragedy.  I, for one, am glad we can remind the world of this once again.  In this case, however, it is a personal involvement as well.  Floods and natural disasters are not the isolated problems of one nation or a single region in the world.  In Southern Missouri, we know the terrible force behind a wall of water.

 

The tragedy has taught the world another fact of which we in Missouri must constantly remind ourselves.  Preparedness saves lives.  Mother Nature is unpredictable, and she can be as cruel as she is beautiful.

 

In Southern Missouri, our rivers are already rising with heavy rains as we approach the Spring thaw. Tornado season will soon begin.  And who knows how many more winter storms will pass?  In every emergency, preparedness is key.

 

Every home should have a battery-operated radio, a flashlight, and a supply of clean water. Every family needs an escape plan in case of earthquake or fire.  Emergency plans are part of our relationship with Mother Nature, because even one life lost is too many. 

 

Perhaps our largest emergency preparation against catastrophic flooding in Southern Missouri is the system of levees, pumping stations, and floodwalls along the Mississippi River.  On one side of this system is a potentially lethal rush of floodwaters and on the other side are lives, homes, and crops.  This decade, we will close the last gap in the levee along the Eighth District’s border with the river.  Throughout the region, however, we need the protection only good infrastructure and management can provide.

 

From one end of the district to the other, grants to fire and rescue departments are securing Southern Missouri against many threats, from forest fires to house fires.  Our firefighters are just as ready, willing, and able to aid in any natural disaster.

 

All of our resources combined cannot always prevent the storms, the floods, or the loss of a natural disaster.  But when that happens, we buckle down, we rebuild, we always move forward.

 

In a similar fashion we must reach deep into the well of generosity to help the victims and the recovering families of the Asian tsunami.  The toughest road for these decimated nations lays ahead.   It is part of who we are as a nation: we are always ready to lend our neighbors a helping hand.  And we have to be, because we may need their assistance someday, when the wall of water rushes our direction.”