Change...
Of all the things we face in life change is the most difficult. Often our lives are changed for us. Natural disasters, accidents, business failures, health crisis, the list goes on, but all these make us change without choice. One minute our life was one thing and the next we must find new footing. Will we begin again? Will we start over? Will we move on?
We watch wrenching stories on the news of natural disasters and see the people standing in front of ruined or destroyed homes or business and they all smile for the TV cameras and say, "We will rebuild, we are here to stay". Despite these bright smiles, as time passes, things intrude on this desire to be comfortable again, to stay in the same place and do the same thing. Sometimes, that just isn't possible. Sometimes change takes us to uncharted territory.
I am currently watching the Hurricane Sandy coverage. Lots of homes destroyed and property ruined and business lost. What these people will face to rebuild is enormous. First will come the insurance reality. If they didn't have Federal Flood Insurance nothing is covered. That's right, nothing. I know because I have been there. I was one of 16 lucky people who had Flood insurance when my business was destroyed by a flash flood. If you have Flood insurance it triggers other good things, low interest loans from FEMA, Business loans from the Small Business administration and gives people the ability to recover some of your loss. The paperwork is staggering but the help is there. For others life will change.
I just finished a road trip through Mississippi and Louisiana. You might think that all has been rebuilt after Katrina but I was astounded by the amount of vacant land where homes and business once stood. Outside of New Orleans, very little has been rebuilt. I think people in New York and New Jersey will face this same reality. If there is money to rebuild they will face new and tougher building standards near the ocean. Costly rebuilding becomes monumentally expensive when the new building regulations are enforced so, again, there may not be sufficient funds available to stay, to rebuild, to make it home again.
So many of these people will face the cruel prospect of change. Yes, they will continue their lives but they will be markedly different in so many ways. You can again find a home, a business and a life where you can be comfortable again but it will take time. Change is survivable.
