Today’s post is not about Portugal because my thoughts are on home. That’s Dayton, Ohio to be specific. A week ago, the greater Dayton area endured a hellish night during which 15 tornadoes tormented residents in a three-county area. One of those twisters was a category F4, which stayed on the ground for 30 minutes and cut a swath of destruction 19 miles long.
I’m grateful that our children and our friends all escaped injury and serious damage to their homes. It is a miracle to all but one family in the region that only one person was killed by these monster storms. Still, as the stories from home continue to make their way to us, I’m heartsick. The neighborhoods of my youth are forever changed. Some may never be rebuilt. Hundreds of people are displaced. Thousands remain without power or safe water supplies.
Like me, everyone I talk to from home is driven to help in some meaningful way. The regional food bank took in donations of 500,000 bottles of water in just three days. Money is pouring in from every corner of the nation – and I might add – at least one corner of Portugal. Our eldest daughter, currently between jobs, was trying to figure out how to put her limited resources to the best use. She decided to go to the dollar store and stock up on moist towelettes, hand sanitizer, deodorant, and other products that will allow someone to at least feel clean for awhile. My sister and her husband joined over 1,000 other volunteers in a clean-up effort in the small community of Trotwood.
In a cruel slap, much of the havoc was wrought in moderate to low income areas where many residents had little to spare that might buy them some safety or comfort. One of the large apartment complexes that was destroyed was torn down yesterday, less than a week after the storms. The displaced residents were distraught that there were no trailers or rental trucks available to help them salvage their belongings before the bulldozers began to roll.
I’ve never felt so far from where I want to be. Every day in Portugal has been a gift to me for the nearly seven months we’ve lived here. Our lives are comfortable, easy, joyful. Indeed, it has become our home. Still, my heart feels the pull of another home. We’ll be returning to Dayton for a visit in the fall. I’m told there will still be clean-up work to be done, and I hope I’ll be able to find a place I can pour my love, care, and pride for my fellow Daytonians to help in the recovery efforts. Until then, I’ll maintain my modest gifts to the American Red Cross and The FoodBank, and pray for easier times ahead for my devastated neighbors.
Keep strong, Dayton!