Caught in the backwash of the epic deluge that has engulfed much of neighboring Texas, this state's military reservists, private companies and people in general are doing whatever it takes to alleviate the effects of the disaster. Meanwhile, the afterwaves of the storm move northeast out of stricken Houston to cover a swath of Arkansas. For it turns out that we're all in this together. Just as the people of both states were always told. By now it may be time for Arkansas to adopt a second unofficial state motto to augment our old one (Regnat Populus, or The People Rule), to wit: Head for the High Ground!
If to be forewarned is to be forearmed, one Arkansas company leads all the rest: Wal-Mart, as usual. Based in Bentonville in the northwestern corner of the state, Wal-Mart is sending convoys of its familiar tractor-trailers to Texas, where it has 512 stores. A grand total of 927 of those trucks are loaded only with water, the very stuff of life, for it happens in every great flood: Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.
They say you can't run government like a business. They say a lot of dubious things--but it just might be a step up if you could. And if your model were Wal-Mart.
Those semis will be needed as this multi-front fight against the floods continues. For they're full of emergency supplies and were already pre-positioned so they could get through to many of the Wal-Mart stores across Texas. The papers say the company has 86 Wal-Marts within 50 miles of Houston.
A Wal-Mart spokesman said flooded roads and streets in and around Houston's metropolitan area were making it hard if not impossible for both Wal-Mart's workers and those folks who ordinarily shop at its stores to get through all that high water. But once the roads are clear, the Wal-Marts should be open for business again, and don't you know Texans will be happy to see those stores get back to normal operating hours.
As a much underrated president of the United States named Warren G. Harding once said, his object was to offer the American people normalcy, not nostrums. And the folks at Wal-Mart are just the sort to supply it, along with essential goods. So let the donations flow. The company's foundation is giving at least $1 million in money and products in response to the crisis in Texas and now overlapping into Louisiana.
And then you have the Arkansas National Guard, which has begun sending folks to help our cousins in Texas. The 61st Civil Support Team is on its way to check air, soil and water to make sure there are no chemicals that would harm people. Which may mean, in civilian talk, to tell people where the chemicals are in their water, air and soil. For this is Houston we're talking about. We've heard there's an oil refinery on every corner. If you think Katrina turned New Orleans into a gumbo of toxic sludge, you ain't seen nothing yet. Once the water starts cleaning out those Houston oil tanks, the environmental problem could last years.
Let us also praise the always-ready and aptly named Sheep Dog Impact Assistance outfit out of Rogers. And a computer lab at McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital in Little Rock is taking calls for the Houston VA hospital. Fort Smith is sending search-and-rescue crews. And a spokesman for the state says Arkansas is ready to handle visitors. Why, of course. Just as a governor of Arkansas named Mike Huckabee did during Katrina, in what was one of his Top 10 moments in office. When they tried to wash Louisiana away, Gov. Huckabee opened our doors. One would expect the current governor to do the same. He also has a reputation of being a swell guy.
Tyson Foods is sending food. Along with employees to cook it. Arkansas electric companies are sending linemen. Even the Salvation Army is deploying. And we don't have enough room to list what all churches are sending.
And that's just the stuff we know about. How many others have sent money or diapers or water or even their own sweat? For the Cajun Navy isn't the only group of volunteers headed toward Houston and environs.
As the days go by, doubtless the list of volunteers and Guard units and linemen from Arkansas will grow. But isn't that what neighbors are for?
Strength, Texas. Your cousins are coming.
Editorial on 08/31/2017