Flood

I think the flooding in Cumbria is pretty unmissable.
You can't not hear about it; you can't avoid the fact that it's happened. It's everywhere, on the news, radio, in the papers.

So imagine being one of the people affected by the disaster. Imagine having all your possessions destroyed by torrents of water, lethally rapid, cold and dirty.
Imagine being the person trapped by rising waves, seeing devastation and destruction and wondering if you are going to get out of the mess alive.
Then imagine being the person called to help. The samaratin, the rescue worker, the emergency responder, fireman, police officer, ambulance personel, RNLI volunteer and first aider.

I can't account for the sights my colleagues witnessed while there over the weekend; I wasn't there to experience the damage first hand.
But what I can be sure of - from reports back and from simply knowing my team so well - is that they have worked their soggy socks off to help the people affected by the watery crisis.

With the graciousness of local stores like Asda and Tesco supplying them with much needed goods, the swift water rescue teams worked day and night delivering the supplies to rest centres, and those cut off from any source of necessities.
They also participated in searches, assisting the fellow emergency services in scanning the area for anyone who may be lost, injured and needing help.

The volunteers crewing the rest centres offered a haven of welcome, safety and warmth, with food and drink, clean clothes, and a place to bed down for the duration.
They also gave emotional support, reassurance and advice, and were generally a shoulder that anyone could lean on.

It was a long weekend, with many difficulties and hardships facing all involved. The waters were threatening, but somehow the teams managed to maintain their morale and worked around the clock to help those in need.

I am so proud of the teams I know and love who responded to the cries for help.
That is true humanitarianism, right there. A prime example of the kindness of others, and the sheer determination that arises in the hearts of those who care when a fellow person is in trouble.

I take my hat off to them - each and every one of them. Well done to all who helped, from Red Cross to the other emergency services and responders.
I don't know where we'd be without people like you.