To Those Losing Everything,

I'm watching the Facebook statuses across my screen as the flooding gets worse in Louisiana. Mostly my family but several of my friends too. People I've known all my life are losing their shops, their houses, and sometimes their pets.

I never realized how far away a few hours was until I'm sitting here watching people I know lose everything, and it is even worse when I realize it's hundreds of thousands of people. Two of my old schools are flooded. Something I thought I'd never see happen.

People across the state are trapped by the water because they live on a hill, but the area around them keeps them from leaving.

So to those that are being directly affected by this, I'm keeping you in my thoughts and in my prayers. That's not a lot, but it's all I can do from here.

My heart is with you, and I want you to know that I'll try to help you pick up the pieces when it's done, whenever that may be. This isn't something that is just going to go away, but there will be people there to help you pick up the pieces.

The Coast Guard is picking people up, and so are many others. People on Facebook and those that are just floating around are picking up people they see in need.

I want you to remember that you are in a state that has gone through the worst and made it out. Louisiana made it through Katrina and Rita in 2005. The state recovered, and recovering from this will come too.

Hurricane Isaac came through in 2012, and it wasn't as bad as the other two. It still wreaked havoc, but Louisiana recovered then too. People reached out, and we managed to make it through.

This wasn't a storm that could have been prepared for like the other ones, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to get through it. It's terrifying to watch everything that goes on, and I know it has to be even more terrifying to be living through these storms.

This is a storm that you can get through, and that's the first step. Recovery will come afterwards, and it might be a long road. I know they're still rescuing people as I write this, and I know it's not pretty for those in the storm right now.

However, you'll make it through this. The storm will pass and so will the flood. It always does. Afterwards, the pieces can be picked up and rebuilt. It might take time, but it will happen.

So keep your friends and family safe as best you can because there are people that care about you all over the world. Those of us that aren't there will help as best as we can after it is all over.

Keep safe, please.

From,

The Woman on the Sideline