Hurricane Harvey… the gift that keeps on giving!
As if a Category 4 hurricane is not enough for the folks
along the Gulf Coast of Texas to deal with, the storm has spawned tornadoes and
catastrophic flooding as well.
The Houston area is expecting at least 50” of rainfall since
Harvey made land on Friday.
Captain’s Note:
By comparison, the flooding that swelled the Ohio River in our area in 2011 was
caused by 15-20” of rainfall over the course of two weeks!
As water-filled images continue to come out of the greater
Houston area, relief agencies like the American Red Cross, UMCOR, and the
Salvation Army have been mobilized. Donations continue to be requested for what
will be a long recover for that area.
And as is often the case, people took to social media
calling for prayers for those in the storm’s path.
And Houston TV evangelist Joel Osteen shared his prayers for
the people of Houston.
Which may have been the wrong thing to do.
The backlash was ugly!
Osteen presides over the largest Christian congregation in
America. His 30,000 members worship in the former Compaq Center, which was the
home to the Houston Rockets from 1975-2003. Osteen’s organization moved into
the facility in 2005 (purchased it outright for $7.5 million in 2010) and
converted it into a 16,800-seat worship arena.
Osteen, known for his feel-good messages and his plastic
good looks, also lives in a $10.5 million home in a suburb outside of Houston.
(It is unclear at this writing if the Osteen home is in the flooded area.)
For obvious reasons, Osteen has been the target of critics
for years. But now, in Houston’s time of need, Osteen failed to marshall his
resources and lend Christian aid and shelter to the very people who put him
where he is!
Instead, he offered them his prayers and best wishes.
In the same way President Trumpf said “Good Luck!” to the
people of the area as Harvey drew near.
And this is President Trumpf and his wife, Melania, headed
out for Texas yesterday to survey the flooding.
Notice her stylish aviator glasses, a very understated and utilitarian flight
jacket, and flood-appropriate footwear.
Only after much social-media outrage did word begin to
trickle out yesterday that Lakewood Church was preparing to open its doors to some
of those displaced by the flooding.
To be honest, the Captain doesn’t have much use for Osteen
or his television ministry.
But let’s stop for a minute to think about what it would
mean for Lakewood Church to open its doors as a shelter for flood evacuees
right now.
Think back to 2005, when Hurricane Katrina struck New
Orleans. Although officials did not want to shelter people in the Mercedes-Benz
Superdome (for reasons that became obvious after the fact), they did open the
doors as the storm came ashore on August 28 – 12 years ago yesterday! Some
15-20,000 people took shelter in this aging building that was intentionally
designed to withstand most storms.
Captain’s Note: Throughout the course of the storm, portions
of the roof were blown away and flood waters did creep in to some areas.
However, the Superdome wasn’t properly equipped to shelter
so many. The National Guard delivered water and MREs (Meals-Ready-To-Eat), enough
to last 15,000 people for three days. But there was no water purification system
onsite, no chemical toilets, no antibiotics or antidiarrheal medicine, no
medical staff, and not enough cots and blankets for the onslaught of homeless.
Three people died in the process.
Within two days, it became obvious this was not a workable
solution and the evacuees were moved to another location.
And due to the storm damage and conditions left by the
evacuees – first and foremost the stench of the failed sanitation system – some
city leaders feared the Superdome would have to be demolished. But it was
repaired and cleaned and continues to serve the New Orleans Saints well.
 |
| Who Dat! |
The Lakewood Church in Houston is most likely even less
prepared to receive thousands of flood victims than the Superdome was. Being a
TV ministry centered around the charisma of its pastor, the Captain seriously doubts
they had a realistic disaster plan in place.
Imagine if, in your own home, there was a person sitting in
every chair you own and laying on every bed you have… people who have slogged
through nasty flood waters to get there… with crying babies and soaked pets and
all the personal possessions they could carry – also soaking wet.
For the Captain and First Mate, that would come to about 31
people… Maybe a few more…
Then multiply that number by two.
Holy Shit!!!
Could you… would you… welcome them into your home?
Would you be able to care for them? Could you feed them?
Would your 2 ½ baths accommodate their toileting needs?
What would be your plan?
And that’s what is needed. More than just a roof over one’s
head, there has to be a plan in place.
In 2009, an ice storm struck Kentucky, leaving 609,000
people across the state without electricity and communications for up to three
weeks.
In the midst of that storm, a United Methodist Church rose to the
occasion. Under the leadership of a lay person who had been trained for just
such a situation, the church began organizing excursions into the community,
knocking on doors to make sure people were safe. It organized hot meals for the
linemen trying to restore power and for anyone who had no food. Generators were
set up, gasoline was trucked in. While overnight shelter was not offered, for
two weeks the church fellowship hall was the center of recovery operations in
that community.
There is estimated to be 30,000 people in the Houston area
displaced from their homes by the flooding left in Harvey’s wake. Without a
plan, Lakewood Church would find itself in the same situation – and condition –
as the Superdome was in 2005.
Which does not excuse Osteen for his failure to step up and assist
the needy people of his community.
In some way.
But maybe this storm will spur that congregation – and yours!
– to better prepare for the future likelihood of another such storm.
Because it will come.
Captain's Addendum, 09-01-2017: The Captain had so wanted to follow up to this blog with an announcement that the kerfluffle around Joel Osteen was simply a misunderstanding and that Lakewood Church has been actively engaged in the flooding recovery efforts from the beginning. Unfortunately, on Wednesday Osteen made the circuit of morning TV shows in a failed PR attempt to turn the growing tidal wave of complaints away from him. As I listened in, he made at least four differentexcuses contradicting statements about the status of Lakewood Church.
1) We never closed our doors to evacuees.
2) We didn't open our doors immediately because we had flooding of our own.
3) We have been a distribution site from the start. (...but not taking in evacuees.)
4) We were never asked to be a shelter.
Frankly, that last one was most damning of all. They should have taken a cue from "Mattress Mack", who immediately opened up his furniture store and took in evacuees. He allowed his displaced neighbors to sit on the furniture AND sleep on the mattresses that comprised his only source of income.
AND NO ONE ASKED HIM TO DO THIS!
He did it because it was the right thing to do... the Christian thing to do...
As for Joel Osteen, his final word was no less satisfying. He assured the nation that Lakewood would open its doors to evacuees "as soon as the other shelters have reached capacity."
Awfully big of you, Mr. Rich TV Preacher. Awfully big of you.
Captain's Addendum, 09-01-2017: The Captain had so wanted to follow up to this blog with an announcement that the kerfluffle around Joel Osteen was simply a misunderstanding and that Lakewood Church has been actively engaged in the flooding recovery efforts from the beginning. Unfortunately, on Wednesday Osteen made the circuit of morning TV shows in a failed PR attempt to turn the growing tidal wave of complaints away from him. As I listened in, he made at least four different
1) We never closed our doors to evacuees.
2) We didn't open our doors immediately because we had flooding of our own.
3) We have been a distribution site from the start. (...but not taking in evacuees.)
4) We were never asked to be a shelter.
Frankly, that last one was most damning of all. They should have taken a cue from "Mattress Mack", who immediately opened up his furniture store and took in evacuees. He allowed his displaced neighbors to sit on the furniture AND sleep on the mattresses that comprised his only source of income.
AND NO ONE ASKED HIM TO DO THIS!
He did it because it was the right thing to do... the Christian thing to do...
As for Joel Osteen, his final word was no less satisfying. He assured the nation that Lakewood would open its doors to evacuees "as soon as the other shelters have reached capacity."
Awfully big of you, Mr. Rich TV Preacher. Awfully big of you.
