Preparation paid off under threat of floods

Did you hear that bullet whiz past our collective ears? We sure dodged a big one when the Brazos and other local rivers and streams stayed mostly within their banks and spared the region some serious widespread flooding.
Sure, a lot of low-lying land went under and there will be various repercussions from the rains and floods as the water recedes and the land dries up. Damaged roads, ruined crops and drowned and displaced critters are sure to be a problem. Still, it could have been much worse.
I was very pleased to see that local government and emergency response organizations were quickly in place and ready to roll had it been necessary. It shows that lessons were learned from hurricanes Ike and Katrina. Austin County appears to be ready for emergencies and natural disasters. At least, it is well on a path to being ready.
One of those steps is the purchase of an emergency generator for the Sealy Police Department. It should have happened a long time ago. The city council is now poised to take action on it. It is not only important to the people of Sealy but also the whole county that the police have the generator in order to operate should we lose power for an extended period of time.
It was also interesting to see how social media played a role in communications. Numerous people were reporting on Facebook and other sites where flooding was occurring and where help was needed. Having real-time information made it easier for help to get where it was needed and to warn people from danger spots.
The spirit of cooperation and the preparedness of local officials helped keep people and property safe and avert what could have been a very dangerous and damaging situation. Kudos all around!

Congratulations graduates
Friday night was the graduation ceremony for the Sealy High School Class of 2015. Congratulations to each and every one of you on your accomplishment. It took a lot of hard work, dedication and commitment to get to this point.
I don’t know how many dozens of graduation ceremonies I’ve been through, either for myself, my family and friends, or as a reporter covering the event. The smiles and speeches are all a blur but the inspiration is the same. The feelings of success and accomplishment and the hope for what lies ahead are truly amazing and should be enjoyed to the fullest at this time.
In the coming weeks, months or perhaps years, many of you will discover something that took me decades to learn. Up to this point in time, life has been about you. Your parents, teachers, coaches, pastors and numerous others in your life have been pouring into you, helping you learn and grow and stretch to reach your potential and become the person you were meant to be. That support will always be there, especially as you move into college and careers.
What you need to know and will soon see is that your life isn’t about you anymore. It’s about what you can do for others. Your life will soon be about what you can give to your employer, your spouse, your children, your community and your God (and not necessarily in that order). You are crossing the threshold from being nurtured and a taker to being nurturing and a giver.
Trust me, the sooner you learn this and embrace it, the better off you will be. I was slow to learn this and too often I tend to forget it. Reminders can be blunt and painful. When you succeed at putting the needs of others before your own, the rewards are immeasurable and the quality of everyone’s life – including yours – improves substantially.