What is Your Samaritan Assistance?
Recently, we heard the parable of the Good Samaritan discussed at our church.
In short, the scripture tells how a lawyer was seeking clarification on his understanding of, love thy neighbor as thyself. He wanted to know, who was his neighbor?
As the parable goes, the Samaritan showed mercy and helped the injured man along the road. Then took him to an inn for more help and to heal. The Samaritan did what he could to help the one in need with what he had. The scripture lesson ends with Jesus saying to the man, “Go and do likewise.”
I couldn’t help but think of the various people on our fire and ambulance crews, and the various calls we have responded to recently and over the years.
These past few months have been a true test and testimony of the fire and rescue services and the willingness and capabilities of so many across the country. Devastating natural disasters from thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding, wildfires, and ice and freezing temperatures have been taking place in unprecedented ways.
We plan for the expected events. We discuss the strange and unexpected, especially after something happens somewhere else. Do we need to prepare for every possibility? That’s not realistic.
We have areas that are prone to flooding. We expect it in the spring and occasionally if big rains come. But how often does it happen? People were trying to blame local officials and weather forecaster for the lack of warning in the recent Texas flooding disaster. No one plans for a river to rise over 20 feet in an hour. Just like no one expected Louisiana and Mississippi to have 8-18” of snow last winter.
There are approximately 1.1 million firefighters in the United States. Roughly 680,000 are volunteers. In our communities, we may have 15 to 50. When disasters strike in our territory, it is still the locals that come out first with what they can to assist.
Whether it is tools and equipment, manpower, searching, or providing shelter and meals. Contractors will leave projects to assist. Our state mobilizes the National Guard to assist communities. That is all local assistance with people doing what they can with what they have.
What we need to prepare for is, what to do if disaster strikes a neighboring community. The primary concern for that department should be that of their family’s welfare. As a neighboring agency, be ready to become the primary response.
The Good Samaritan lives everywhere and in us all. It is just a matter of what assistance you have to offer. Maybe that is putting on an air pack and getting dirty. Or, maybe it’s doing paperwork and making sandwiches.
Remember to mark your calendars for 10-12 October for the Fall Fire Conference in Spearfish. We have two speakers coming who know and understand rural volunteer services.
Mr. Tom Merrill will speak on the “The Professional Volunteer Fire Department.” And Mr. Rodney Foster will provide insight on “Rural Department Staging and Working Together.”
We will also be looking for 16 people, two groups of eight individuals, to be part of a focus group gathering information and ideas for the research project by SDSU on the health, wellness, and nutrition of the fire service in South Dakota. Many of you may have completed their survey at State fire school last year. This is a continued step in the project requirements. We will be looking for firefighter representation from across the state, for a quick 1-hour session. If you are interested in being part of the focus group, let us know.
The dog days of summer are here. The fields are going to start drying down. County fairs and school activities are going to be starting. Let’s all be ready and be careful.
Stay safe,
Charlie Kludt
SDFA President