Apart from death of a loved one or serious illness to yourself or loved ones, the most devastating event a person can experience is to have a home ravaged by flood or fire.
The recent disastrous floods in the Red River Valley have made us all more sensitive to the impact that such a personal loss has on people’s lives, thanks to the thorough media coverage. Although to be honest, it is difficult for anyone else to say, “I know how you feel,” if they haven’t been through it themselves.
Read Also
Volunteers help exotic animal farm rebuild
Exotic animal farm loses beloved camel and pony to huge hail storm that gripped the Brooks, Alta. area as a community member starts a fundraiser to help the family recover from the financial and emotional damage.
Although a house may be seen by some people as just a piece of property, it is a place of memories, and hopes. And in rural Canada, the home is a symbol of the past and present history of the people who worked that land. Yes, homes can be rebuilt, but only after the damage inflicted by flood waters has been cleaned up and restored. It is easy to see the damage to a building that has been burned. It is harder to see and correct the damage done to a building that has been flooded, until you actually get inside.
Whether you live near the Red River Valley and have friends or family whose homes have been soaked and damaged by flood waters, or whether friends of yours have recently been burned out of their home, you can be helpful, but only if you do and say the right things.
Listen and understand
Don’t tell them everything will be all right. It isn’t, and won’t be. Instead, listen to their pain, grief and frustration, and acknowledge their feelings. Realize that if the flooding was extensive and long-lasting, they will likely have to gut their house and start from scratch. And for many this is an overwhelming task because tearing up each room is like gutting their own lives.
Offer to give them a break from their task of ripping apart and rebuilding. Offer to get in there with a shovel and work along with them. Offer to take them out for coffee, for dinner or out to a movie. The couple of hours of diversion you offer will continue to help them for days afterward.
People need friendships when they feel overwhelmed. They also need concrete help. Offer some of both and you will be helping them in the best way possible. Floods and fires devastate people as well as property. Letting someone know that you understand or are trying to understand what they are feeling and experiencing is the best gift you can likely give them.
