You and your spouse sit down after the kids are asleep. “How can we afford this?” “Add it to the credit card.” “You’re r...

You and your spouse sit down after the kids are asleep. “How can we afford this?” “Add it to the credit card.” “You’re right. She’s so excited, we can’t take this moment away from her.” Conversations I’m sure 40 or so parents had with their spouse about sending their kids to a summer camp they would remember for the rest of their lives. Imagine the stress. Sleepless nights trying to make it happen. Then waking up one morning to see on the news that the camp was washed away and no idea if your child is dead, alive or missing. Imagine saving all year for a family vacation in your camper — finally in your bed, resting — and waking up to being washed away with no warning because your phone wasn’t set up for alerts in your vacation plan. This is different from any other natural disaster in my life. They couldn’t prepare. They didn’t stay awake to act fast. Very few locals involved, mostly people on vacation, who probably didn’t even get a 30-minute warning on their phones. And the first responders... Long hours, low pay, and memories even dementia won’t erase. God, wrap them all in your warmth.You and your spouse sit down after the kids are asleep. “How can we afford this?” “Add it to the credit card.” “You’re right. She’s so excited, we can’t take this moment away from her.” Conversations I’m sure 40 or so parents had with their spouse about sending their kids to a summer camp they would remember for the rest of their lives. Imagine the stress. Sleepless nights trying to make it happen. Then waking up one morning to see on the news that the camp was washed away and no idea if your child is dead, alive or missing. Imagine saving all year for a family vacation in your camper — finally in your bed, resting — and waking up to being washed away with no warning because your phone wasn’t set up for alerts in your vacation plan. This is different from any other natural disaster in my life. They couldn’t prepare. They didn’t stay awake to act fast. Very few locals involved, mostly people on vacation, who probably didn’t even get a 30-minute warning on their phones. And the first responders... Long hours, low pay, and memories even dementia won’t erase. God, wrap them all in your warmth.