CULTURE OF PREPARATION AIDS DISASTER VICTIMS

Most everyone experiences some kind of disaster somewhere, sometime. The Cape Girardeau area is no exception, with its flood-prone Mississippi River, tornadoes, fires and ice storms -- just to name a few occurrences that cause disruptions in our lives.

Many folks in these parts have been the beneficiaries of disaster aid in one form or another, be it Red Cross, Salvation Army, helpful neighbors or state and federal emergency-aid programs.

In general, there is much to be said for the promptness and effectiveness of the various relief agencies that become involved after a disaster. A study in emergency preparedness, however, was clearly demonstrated recently when a tornado struck Salt Lake City.

By and large, tornadoes are rare for that area of the country. The Salt Lake City tornado came quickly, violently and without warning, striking mainly in the downtown area. One person was killed. Dozens were injured. More than 120 homes were damaged -- 34 beyond repair.

But within a half-hour after the storm, teams of volunteers were directing traffic and going through neighborhoods with chain saws and other cleanup equipment. By the next morning, nearly all the streets were passable.

In this particular case, it was the Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) culture that resulted in such a quick disaster response.

Salt Lake City is, after all, the center of Mormonism, with its beautiful temple and world-renown tabernacle located in the heart of the city. The Mormon church stresses preparation for all of its members. Each Mormon man in the ward where the tornado struck is assigned four or five families to check on after a disaster. Members are trained with a 50-page manual and a military-style plan for disasters. Member families are encouraged to maintain a year's supply of food.

Decades of such preparation and planning have held the Mormons in good stead since they arrived in Utah after being forced to flee religious persecution in the Midwest.

For those who suffered in any way during the tornado in Salt Lake City, there is some comfort to be taken from living in a community where prompt aid and relief are so ingrained in people's lives.

The Mormons are to be commended not only for their swift assistance in the tornado, but for setting an example of meaningful preparation for the unexpected. There is a lesson there for all of us.