The storm crawled over us for about eight hours. We were disconnected from the outside world for a couple days (sporadic cell and text service), no power for a week (other than a portable generator), and couldn’t get out of our flooded neighborhood for four days. It was the most intense (and frankly exhilarating) experience ever. Massive damage that will take years for our community to recover. Then I see Turkey and I’m reminded how lucky/blessed we are. Very few people died, most still have homes (although thousands are still covered with tarps waiting for new roofs), and for us, my and my wife’s employers paid us our regular salaries for the two weeks while we dealt with it. After insurance my wife and I came out ahead. What we experienced was really just a major inconvenience. It’s like a completely different universe.

I’m trying to imagine what it’s like, and will be like over there and I don’t think I can.