A heartening response to a disastrous flood

Few natural disasters can match the demoralizing aftermath of a flood.

Tornadoes and earthquakes leave much intact. Big floods spare nothing. In the flood plain, every house, farm and store gets inundated with filthy water.

But there’s one nice thing about almost any major disaster: It awakens the best in people. The flooding that ravaged Southwestern Washington last week has been met with a heartwarming outpouring of relief from near and far.

The floods’ devastation was appal-ling. In stricken Lewis County, where the flooding was worst, the waters receded to reveal hundreds of drowned cattle, washed-out bridges and houses deep in caked mud. Furniture, appliances, clothing, precious photographs and heirlooms were ruined. In some places, the muck was mixed with sewage.

Lives have been devastated. But the impact has been softened by the intervention of neighbors, an immense number of volunteer work parties, donations of cash, food and other essentials.

While the Federal Emergency Management Agency is maligned for its sometimes-fumbling response to disasters – Katrina being the horror story – it delivers aid like no one else once it finally gets into gear.

Somebody in the agency has at least been paying attention. Washington was declared a limited disaster area on Saturday; on Sunday, the Bush administration expanded the emergency declaration to include personal assistance.

This means people in Lewis and Grays Harbor counties can apply for as much as $28,800 in cash grants to rebuild their lives. For many, even that much won’t come near to restoring their damaged homes and possessions, but it is significant help.

The federal declaration also clears the way for state officials to issue food stamps and unemployment checks to flood victims.

What’s refreshing is the way this is all happening without the partisanship and bickering that attends almost any big undertaking. Republicans and Democrats are working together to assist the victims. No one is complaining about government handouts, welfare cheats or spendthrift politicians.

Sadly, it often seems that only a flood, hurricane or other natural disaster can persuade people to recognize their common humanity. When it does happen, though, it’s a beautiful sight.