Calm in the Storm

One of the consequences of having military installations on the coasts is that they are often in the direct path of potential national disasters. This isn’t by accident either — the US military conducts more disaster relief and helps more regions and even other nations get back on their feet that their placement in such areas is often to the benefit of everyone.

This is a huge reason why we at Nine Line News revere our serving service members and do everything we can to support them on a regular basis. And not only our military, but also our first responders — those police, firefighters, EMTs, and power company linemen (the unsung heroes of disaster relief efforts), who often have to stay behind while everyone else evacuates from their respective areas.

These brave men and women stay behind to ensure that people can get out safely, that property is protected from those who would do harm and for those who have to stay behind for whatever reason.

But just because they stay behind doesn’t mean that our military isn’t doing anything to prepare. In fact, it’s times like this that they work harder than ever.

How is the Military Preparing?

Different units have different roles and responsibilities. Often, this is based upon their qualification status. For instance, you might have seen where Parris Island, the East Coast Marine Corps recruitment depot, has been evacuated and recruits have been moved to a sheltering facility. This is mainly because these future Devil Dogs are still in a training phase. This is often the case in most branches of service that recruits are relegated to being protected until fully trained and qualified in their respective job specialties. Drill Instructors might be tough and demanding, but at their core is the safety of the recruits entrusted to their discipleship.

So what is the main force doing? Well, these Marines, Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors arrived in Haiti to prepare for the disaster response days in advance. We find this as absolutely phenomenal, that our brave men and women serving in uniform were there days before the storm. They were there to help save the lives of countless in the aftermath that we’ve seen.

Their disaster relief efforts are doubtlessly filling an essential role as the tragic death toll has climbed in the aftermath of hurricane Matthew.

Evacuations Can be Tough

The military has also had to evacuate roughly 700 military family members (and about 60 pets!) from the US Naval installation at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It’s a complicated maneuver that few other institutions are as prepared and able to affect mass movements of people and equipment into safety.

Not to mention, the Coast Guard is out there, ready to assist as needed in coastal areas such as Savannah, GA, where Nine Line is headquartered.

It’s something we see every time a major threat comes our nation’s way — be it from an armed opponent or from a natural disaster. In both war and peace, our nation’s armed forces help to save countless lives and really make a difference in their communities. Hopefully this morning, your heart is swelling with pride for all of our nation’s military and first responders. They are the ones who really make the difference.