Everything

The recent fires in Colorado destroyed innumerable homes and businesses and left thousands homeless. This event reminded me of another catastrophe I lived through, the Great Flood of 1993. In both instances, people lost everything. Watching these events unfold on television was surreal. When you are from a particular area, and familiar with the homes and businesses destroyed, the pain is palpable. One of the television reporters began to cry as he described the devastation he was witnessing.

In 1993, I was working in human resources. I remember interviewing a young woman for a position and asking her to provide her driver’s license. She replied, “I lost that in the flood.” I then asked for a copy of her social security card or passport. Again, she replied, “I lost those in the flood, too. I lost everything in the flood. These aren’t even my own clothes.” It wasn’t just that she didn’t have a few documents, she lost everything…her purse, her personal effects, her house, her car, and every little and big precious thing. Watching the tragedy unfold in Boulder, I was reminded of that woman’s story. I cannot imagine losing everything.

Witnessing these events caused me to consider what I would save:
My dog, Maggie
A file that includes my birth certificate, passport, SSN card, a copy of my insurance cards, and a copy of my driver’s license. Today, I made duplicates of those documents to give my children for safekeeping.

I probably forgot something but, for now, that’s all I can think of that would be invaluable in starting the onerous process of re-creating a life. I’m good about backing up my phone on the Cloud which secures phone numbers and pictures. I also went through the house videotaping each room for insurance purposes and saved that on the Cloud, too – a minor inconvenience compared to those who lost everything.