Old Dog V
The Anatomy of a Storm …
Bob Neumann
Today we speak of Storm in many ways. It is a word that brings to mind many different things. In the sense of simple meteorology it is anything from a line of rain clouds to a category 5 Hurricane. From the tame idea of gentle spring rain, to the utter terror of a Kansas Cyclone. Metaphorically we talk about “storms in a tea cup to the “Storm of the century.” Sometimes we look at alterations in our social; spiritual; or personal existence as a “storm.” Maybe our loose translation and utilization of the word “storm” has desensitized us to its original concept. Just maybe it has been planned that way.
“Words” are merely a way to communicate. To express ideas in a concise manner that eliminates error. In our modern vernacular “storm” tends to be rather inclusive, but not so to early man.
Plainly speaking; in ancient times the concept of “Storm” was of terrifying complications to a life, precarious at best. Simply defined a storm was any cataclysmic alteration in daily events. Flood-Fire-Earthquake were unforeseen events that came out of nowhere bringing pain and suffering. To the ancient superstitions of early man the ultimate terror of a thunderstorm was not in the area of meteorological pyrotechnics. In the simplicity of their rudimentary thinking a rolling peal of thunder was in reality pure theophany. The voice of gods, and the lightning was an instrument of wrath. Simple wisdom said, “watch the sky.” If the signs changed people wept; prayed; and sacrificed.
So man looked to the sky and learned the signs and the seasons. They were quick to mark the patterns of their world. As each season changed, it bought the memories of previous times. So man learned to put aside for the winter. To move to the high ground when the spring floods arose. Nature could be marked by the movement of the stars in the heavens; and the angle of the sun; and the phases of the moon. This was raw data based on experience, and experience leads to knowledge. From which wisdom emerges; and wisdom is power.
In this scenario wisdom allowed man to prosper and live in harmony with his environment. Until the unforeseen; the cataclysmic hand of nature struck without warning; without mercy. Such is the “Storm.”
The Storm – a sudden disruption of the fabric of society. Whether by nature caused; or spawned by the will of man; tend to follow a chain of exacting events. Each growing like links on a chain; that lead from the level of severe discomfort and inconvenience to racial/tribal extinction. Mankind has always had a good reason to fear the storm. It is called self-preservation. The concept of catastrophic can be seen in many areas. That which might be anticipated; spring floods, summer drought; and winter blizzards. It can also be of a sudden nature that builds up and overwhelms. Such would be Typhoons and Hurricanes, Wars and Plagues and Locust swarms also qualify. And then there are the truly cataclysmic; earthquake; tidal wave; fire. As different and varied as each may be; all are but the beginning of the chain of events common to all.
Each “Storm” has a personality of its own. Likewise the chain varies in sequence; but the links remain unchanged.
The first link is always death and injury. The initial shock of the tragedy is the scores of the dead and the dying. The cries of the wounded and the maimed spur on the desperate efforts of the survivors to sift through the rubble for missing loved ones.
The next link is usually of simple destruction. Homes are leveled. Businesses and farms; whether damaged or completely washed away can no longer function. Destruction is joined to the next link called disruption. In ancient times cataclysmic events disrupted the very fabric of life. The disruption of the economy and communications isolated and slowed the flow of resources needed for recovery.
With bodies unrecovered; injured untreated; food and safe water limited the usual next link was disease. The greatest killers in history were never war and storm; but the insidious gang of Dysentery; Typhus; Cholera; Tetanus. Each a little link in the chain of tragedy that follows the “Storm.”
While there are still other little links in these chains of events; maybe the worst is the link called despair. It is spawned from the mixture of fear; insecurity; helplessness that keeps a survivor in the mindset of a victim. In ancient times a community could not look beyond itself for assistance. If the level of death and destruction was great enough; the community would die from within most assuredly as from the storm without.
So what storm lies ahead you may ask. Whatever disrupts the fabric of our lives is a storm. And if many are affected at the same time; it becomes a catastrophe. Present day society; as unbalanced and fickle as it is; needs little to destroy and disrupt the lives we take for granted.
Meteorological events; according to experts are becoming more frequent and more inclusive. Likewise earthquakes are increasing in severity and number globally. More wars and acts of terrorism are daily covered by the media. Governments totter; regimes fall. Civil and cultural unrest more often lead to violence. International economic uncertainty; inflation; market down turns are new “Storms” we should consider. Remember 1929 and what followed.
There are many who watch the sky and look for signs of the Storm that are on the approaching horizon. Is there an early warning system we can look to for help? Is there any way to prepare for what we fear; what we know is coming; but can not see? Is there any hope?
There is, if you know where to look….
Up Next: Storm Warnings