Floods, Hurricanes, Fires and Other "Natural" Disasters

And the devastation left behind may be a harbinger of the future

World data sources report average deaths from disasters over the past few decades are estimated at 40 - 50,000 worldwide. Some improvement from prior years are evident as early warning systems have been developed, together with technological advances and improved rescue and humanitarian efforts resulted in a reduction in deaths.

Currently in North America we are witnessing what appears to be an intensification and frequency of natural disasters resulting in increased loss of lives. The subsequent damage to property and infrastructure, resulting homelessness and increased dependency on governmental assistance creates financial needs amounting to billions of dollars.

ABC News reports over 230 dead from the terrible devastation caused by hurricane Helene ravaging Florida through North & South Carolina. One Ashville family lost 11 members of their family to Helene. Roads are impassable or non-existent, survivors are in need of basic neccesities, water contamination from sewage is a potential public disease emergency and millions are without power. One survivor said the smell of death hangs in the air with at least one body washed up in a tree. Many more are still missing. Some communities are cut off from the rest of country and only accessible by air … and here comes Milton in the wake of Helene.

Are These hurricanes Harbingers of the Future?

Atmospheric and environmental scientist John Morales, the longest tenured weatherman in South Florida wrote an article that peaked my interest. He firmly believes that hurricane Helene is a harbinger of the future …

Something’s shifted. And it’s not just the climate.

Even before being named a tropical storm, I knew that what would become Mean Helene was set on a mission to be yet another multibillion-dollar disaster. I knew that it would undergo rapid intensification and become a catastrophic hurricane. And I knew that a calamitous rainfall event would unfold in the Southeast many hours after landfall.

So, I did what I’ve done during my entire 40 year career—I tried to warn people. Except that the warning was not well received by everyone. A person accused me of being a “climate militant,” a suggestion that I’m embellishing extreme weather threats to drive an agenda. Another simply said that my predictions were “an exaggeration.”

But it wasn’t an exaggeration.

The storm surge from Helene was widespread and up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) deep. The windstorm sliced through the Southeast with gusts up to 100 miles per hour (160 km/hr). And the rains were, as I predicted, “biblical.”

Morales is convinced that hurricanes like Helen are harbingers of the future. He undercores this conviction with this final paragraph:

But no one can hide from the truth. Extreme weather events, including hurricanes, are becoming more extreme. I must communicate the growing threats from the climate crisis come hell or high water—pun intended.

While Mr. Morales credits most of this change to climate change, he also makes a profound observation that is worth repeating. A stement that appears to recognize another force at work:

Something’s shifted. And it’s not just the climate.

Indeed, the Bible also supports this conviction. Various signs of a political, moral, or spiritual nature will point to the coming of Christ. While natural disasters by themselves are not a sign of the end times, an increase in natural disasters such as plagues, earthquakes and hurricanes are just one of several signs that will usher in the end times spoken of in the Bible. —Luke 21:11

Love Thy Neighbor

Americans are rallying around each other to do what needs to be done by helping each other. I recall a comment made many years ago by a European that the difference between Americans and Europeans was Americans helped each other and did not wait for the government to help them—unlike Europeans. Black Mountain NC police chief said it has been “amazing” to see how the community has come together after a tragedy.

How You Can Help

A friend in Lynchburg Virginia founded a 501 (c) (3) ministry, Come To The Altar dedicating himself to the primary goal of helping people after the 2017 hurricane disasters in the US, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean.

He has been collecting items including clothing, water, food, baby formula, diapers etc., and was able to deliver them to NC residents with the assistance of another volunteer. The donations were met with gratitude, and he is in the process of collecting donations for another delivery in about 2-3 weeks which would be around the end of October.

If God places it on your heart to help the hurricane victims please consider donating to Jorge Cruz from Come to the Altar ministry. You will find the contact information on the website. His mission statement is Together, we can help the hurting and bring unity to the community.

Let’s help him accomplish that mission and show the love of Christ to the hurting—especially with Milton following behind Helen. As of this writing millions are without power and twelve deaths have been confirmed as high winds, floodwaters, and tornadoes wreak havoc on Florida residents.

In His image,

Rick B