Flood Waters Can’t Diminish Hope

Published June 9, 1983. Many residents of Utah have been adversely affected by the floods that have played havoc in our state during the past few days. And apparently it is not over yet. Even though not all in our state have been directly affected, we have followed the events on local, state, and even national news.

While witnessing the devastations, I remembered an article I read some time ago about family crisis and stress. Realizing that many families in Utah are now undergoing a crisis in the form of flooding, I reread the article titled “Social Stresses on the Family,” which was written by Dr. Reuben Hill of the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Hill notes, “When unexpected or unforeseen (or sometimes foreseen) events occur to the family, upsetting normal routines and behaviors for handling most situations, a crisis is said to have occurred. Crisis requires adaptation of existing behavior patterns by all family members in order to meet the demands of the new situation. One byproduct of crisis is stress. How family members react to stress is dependent upon the type of crisis and its duration.”

Dr. Hill points out there are usually four stages to a crisis: (1) crisis, (2) disorganization, (3) recovery, and (4) reorganization. Let us briefly examine each.

The crisis period is the time the actual event is encountered. It may be severe or mild, depending on the nature of the crisis, the advance warning, and the actual intensity. Having the irrigation ditch run over and flood the basement is one kind of crisis. But having the whole house demolished by a wall of water and mud is still another.

The period of disorganization is the length of time immediately following the crisis when we are not yet able to perform even routine daily tasks. This period depends on the stability of the family and the perception of the crisis on life. Here is where a little philosophy and common sense come to bear. Will the crisis continue indefinitely or, in time, will this, too, pass?

The period of recovery is the time it takes to resume performing the necessary daily tasks once it is possible to do so. While such tasks must be encountered one at a time, the period of recovery for many is unnecessarily prolonged. This, too, is contingent on attitude and resources available to the family during the recovery period.

The level of reorganization is the degree to which the family recovers from the crisis. Comparatively, is the family able to attain the level of functioning it previously experienced? Will the level of recovery be less? Or, as it is in most cases, will the level of recovery actually be greater? Obviously, this stage of crisis is dramatically influenced by the other three.

Dr. Hill notes that stages one and two, crisis and disorganization, are out of control in the family in many instances. Some crises, such as flooding, and their duration cannot be predetermined. The period of recovery and the level of reorganization however, are directly in the hands of the family members.

Many residents of Utah who have encountered the recent flooding have undoubtedly read the following Biblical passage several times. “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:27).

A closer look at the biblical passage will note the scripture is not only talking about houses and homes but also about hearts and hope. Even though the floods may take away our houses, let them never conquer our hearts. And while they may destroy our homes, let them never destroy our hope.

This is what the residents of Utah ultimately have over the elements of nature. During this crisis of flooding we unitedly join our hearts and our hope for all.