We have a state of emergency on the Navajo Nation because quite a few communities are without water including us here in St. Michaels. I took these pictures yesterday during a rain storm to show you how creative Clive is. He had gallon jugs, garbage cans, anything he could find out in the storm collecting the rain as it dripped off of the gutters. One of the Elders caught the idea and started collecting water for he and his companion. Our other set of Elders filled their garbage can with rain water.
The problem started with a really really cold spell where the temps were below zero for quite a while. The pipes throughout the nation began to freeze and then to break. As they broke the water ran out of the breaks in wild abandon. Now trying to refill the various cysterns is the issue, especially trying to get them full enough to provide pressure. It could take weeks. The NN Pres. is asking the people who still have water to cut down on their use to assist in refilling these containers.
Also, part of the problem is that where some of the breaks are, the ground is so muddy due to the recent rain storm and higher daytime temps that the equipment such as trucks and backhoes cannot get to them. The Bishop said this morning that he sunk down to his ankles in mud visiting a member this week.
We had a very short Sacrament meeting today because the bathrooms are obviously unusable. The Bishop gave a short talk about preparedness after the sacrament was passed and then we closed with a song and a prayer.
If we have to be out of something I’m glad it’s not electricity, but in any case two thoughts come to mind. We really do have to listen to our leaders and be prepared for any circumstance, and second is sympathy for the many who have lived through severe natural disasters of which this is just a drop in a bucket, no pun intended.
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