NOTE: If you live in an area that suffered devastation—even death—due to Hurricane Ida, you will know best how to handle sensitive issues with this topic.
- Have you ever been in a situation in which you needed to be rescued, but no one could help you? Share your story. (Allow students to share—answers may include something like being stuck in a treehouse and no one hearing their hollers for help or taking a test in school and not knowing the answers so they failed. Be prepared to share your own experience.)
Feeling helpless stinks. We would all like to think we can save a situation that’s going downhill, but that’s not always the case. Hurricane Ida made its appearance in late August and many eastern states were dealt a huge dose of helplessness over the impending impact of the storm. States prepared as best they could by ordering citizens to evacuate, boarding up homes and businesses with rescue workers standing by, but that’s all that could be done. Hurricane Ida landed on Louisiana, causing destruction to homes, cities, and lives. So much destruction happened in a few days, and not one person could save the lives, homes, and towns that were destroyed by the storm. Let’s look at some of the devastating effects in Louisiana:
Play the following clip, stop at [start at 2:01; stop at 3:40]:
RAW drone video: Hurricane Ida flooding and damage in LaPlace, Louisiana
- How do you think those who lost their homes felt when they knew the storm was heading their way? (Answers might include: scared, frustrated, felt a loss of control, etc.)
- How does it make you feel when you can’t fix a troublesome situation on your own? Why? (Answers might include: I feel angry because I don’t like having to ask for help; I’m okay with it—I know I can always ask my parents to help me when I need it, etc.)
The effects of Hurricane Ida were devastating for lots of people. No one could save them from the storm, and it was a helpless feeling to watch it all unfold on television. We can’t always make situations turn out the way we want. Sometimes we just aren’t in control.
Today we’re going to look at a hopeless situation Noah faced. A catastrophic storm was headed his way—one he had no control over. Let’s take a look at Noah’s responses and decipher what all of this means for us right now.
