Today the siren signaling an emergency (e.g. incoming missiles) was sounded throughout the country as a drill. The powers that be want us to know where the nearest shelters are, to see if they are indeed ready for an emergency and in general to see what issues need to be rectified in case of a true national emergency.
[Of course, many areas of our country have recently gotten plenty of practise with this. I wonder if they were excused from today's exercise.]
I was at work today. My school started preparing for the drill last week, when I noticed bottled water being stocked in the "protected rooms". I joined the staff of a class of severely handicapped children to help get everyone to the "protected area" (not a room, but a space away from any windows). When I arrived in the classroom five minutes before the siren was scheduled, all the kids were ready in their chairs and standers. We were six adults with 7 children. The siren went off and we were all in the "area" in about 15 seconds. I sure hope that when the missiles do start flying in Central Israel (G-d willing, never) that whoever is sending them gives us enough notice to have the kids ready in their chairs and for enough staff members to be there. Because at any particular time, there are only two or three adults in the room, the kids are in and out of their chairs, sometimes attached to feeding and other tubes. Some of these kids are heavy and difficult to move. Others are extremely fragile and need to be moved very carefully.
Let's just say the real thing would take alot longer than 15 seconds.
I was surprised at how emotional I felt when the siren went off. I try not to think about it much, but the truth is that I live in a country that so many others want to destroy. And of late, our good buddy, Obama, seems to be getting ready to throw us under the bus so he could make nice with, well, with terrorists. I don't have a good feeling about that at all. Which made today's exercise feel important.
As I was ferrying my assigned child to the area, I glanced out the window. In the distance, I saw a woman running like crazy. She probably didn't know about the drill and was running for her life. My heart pounded just thinking about her terror.
Sigh. May these sirens forever only be drills.
Haveil Havalim #219 is up at Dov Bear.
The Stuff that Lasts
8 years ago
