Flood!

Piedras Negras, a city that is less than a mole from Eagle Pass, Texas had torrential rains last weekend. A small AP story appeared in a few news papers.

The rain came during the night and entire houses were filled and covered with water. The city received more rain than they usually get in six months. Picture a card-board house with a tin roof that is completely under-water. Picture a small cinder-block house that is completely underwater.

The downtown area was particularly hard hit, but most of the damage was confined to the rooftops, ceiling, and some low shelves. Downtown has a good drainage system and alarms sound when there is an emergency. Police drive the streets and warn the people in the better parts of town that there is flooding.

In the poor sections of town there are no alarms and no police warnings. Fortunately, the thunder and lightening woke some people and they woke their neighbors. There was only one death. But the damage to the poor was terrible.

From San Antonio, it does not sound like much. They lost their appliances and furniture. However, when standing inside a poor person's home that was hit with this storm, things are different. The couple that worked their entire lives and build a small cinder-block home in this neighborhood should have been a news story. Juan is 78 and physically handicapped (his words - sorry if he offends you). He can not walk without his cane and even then it is a struggle. Juan and his wife worked hard, their entire lives. They set aside a few pesos each week and then purchased a few cinderblocks. Eventually, they purchased cement, doors and windows and they built their own house. As the years passed they purchased a refrigerator, washer and some meager furnishings. Their entire house was covered with water. Marks on the walls show that the interior was filled with water. Every possession is ruined. They are retired and live on $96 a month!

Other homes and families told similar stories. Everyone is thankful that they awoke and ran to higher ground. Everyone that works, is back on the job. However, when the children return from school they come to a house that reeks of the odor of wet cardboard. The smell is nasty.

The people cannot prepare meals. No stoves, no firewood, and many pots, pans and dishes floated away during the storm. Local people organized a partial solution. Volunteers cook meals in huge pots, load them on to pick-ups and deliver them to the poor that are in need. One operation alone, delivers 3000 meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner. The meals are a 'poor person's meal' but the food is nourishing and very much appreciated. Because local merchants discount the food and the cooks and drivers are all volunteers the meals only cost us 10 cents.
That is right, we pay. Paper Houses Across the Border is paying for as many meals as possible.

This weekend millions of us will pay $20 to enjoy a movie and snacks. I can at least send $20 to provide 200 meals to these people.