The month of August has ended with one of the biggest bangs the United States of America has ever seen.  Hurricane Katrina will be known as the worst hurricane to ever hit the United States.  The pictures that are shown on the news networks only show a small portion of the devistation.   

Today I feel very fortunate to live in the Pacific Northwest.  When it comes to natural disasters, we have been very lucky.  Sure, we have earthquakes, but they are no where near the magnitude of the California Earthquakes.  We have volcanos, but the last major eruption claimed just over 50 lives.  The Cascade Mountain range was created by the forces of friction from a seduction zone.  I lived through the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980 from the safe distance of approximately 100 miles.  Today, I even live on the side of a long dormant volcano within the city limits of Portland. 

The big storm that is talked about in Portland is the Columbus Day Storm, October 12, 1962.   It is considered to be close to a Category III Hurricane.  Since I was not born until 1968 and did not move to the Pacific Northwest until 1973, I have no actual comparisons to make. 

I pray for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.  I pray that they will be able to endure the harshness that has been put in front of them.  I pray that the United States will be able to come together to help alleviate the suffering.