By Pastor Doug Stauffer
Thanksgiving will mean something a little different for many of us in Northwest Florida this year. We have always had plenty of reasons to thank God, but Hurricane Isaias gave us a few thousand more.
On Friday evening, Oct. 9, Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin as a powerful Category 2 hurricane, with sustained winds of 105 mph. After reaching Category 3 strength with winds of 120 mph, the hurricane brought destructive winds, flooding and widespread power outages.
But while many of us prepared to ride out the storm, thousands of others prepared to go to work.
As a Niceville city councilman, I visited the Okaloosa County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at NWFSC several times before and after the hurricane. What impressed me was not simply the technology, equipment or personnel, but the tremendous coordination behind the scenes. Most people will never witness the remarkable planning, split-second decisions and countless hours spent protecting our communities.
Our public safety director, Patrick (Pat) Maddox, and his emergency management team carried enormous responsibilities. They had to make decisions, evaluate information, coordinate resources and address emergencies. While many watched weather reports, these dedicated individuals were protecting lives and property.
The numbers are remarkable. More than 16,000 utility and restoration personnel were positioned across Northwest Florida before the storm. Approximately 5,000 Florida National Guard soldiers and airmen were activated, along with nearly 400 Florida State Guard personnel. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, public works employees and countless volunteers joined the response.
And you know things are serious when Bernard Johnson, who had barely begun enjoying his retirement from Florida Power & Light, was called back into action to help with the hurricane response! Think about those numbers — thousands leaving their families, postponing responsibilities and sometimes risking their lives to help complete strangers.
During my EOC visits, I witnessed elected officials from every level of government working together. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, U.S. Reps. Jimmy Patronis and Byron Donalds, state Sen. Jay Trumbull and state Rep. Patt Maney came to assess the situation and support recovery efforts. Most county commissioners, along with numerous mayors, city council members and other community leaders, were also involved.
Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Destin on Saturday, Oct. 10, accompanied by Attorney General James Uthmeier, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Jared Perdue and FDLE Commissioner Larry Keefe. Their visit underscored the importance of coordinating state and local resources. Florida has become a model for disaster preparedness and response, showing what leadership, advance planning and cooperation at every level can accomplish.
But some of the greatest heroes will never appear in a photograph or receive recognition. They are the linemen working through the night, crews clearing roads, dispatchers answering calls, volunteers distributing supplies and neighbors checking on elderly residents. They are also the spouses and children waiting at home while someone they love serves others.
The Bible reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Scripture does not tell us to be thankful only when everything goes according to plan. We are not thankful for destruction or suffering, but even in hardship, we can recognize God’s goodness and others’ kindness.
Some neighbors are still recovering. For them, the storm is not over simply because the winds have stopped and the water has receded. Gratitude should move us beyond words to practical assistance. Hebrews 6:10 reminds us, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” People may overlook a sacrifice. God does not.
This Thanksgiving, let’s do more than thank God for the food on our tables, the roofs over our heads and the electricity in our homes. Let’s thank Him for the people who helped make those blessings possible. When you see a first responder, utility worker, public employee or volunteer who helped our community through Hurricane Isaias, take a moment to say thank you. After all, thankfulness should never be limited to one Thursday in November.
