It”s been a bit gloomy out lately.
Wildfires have been ravaging Idaho and the entire Northwest all summer long. Idaho isn”t even dealing with the worst of it, either. President Obama declared Washington in a state of emergency.
This alone is enough to send people into a panic about the potential dangers that exist in the areas they reside in. But panicking is almost never the best course of action in any situation. Instead of panicking, Moscow residents should simply stay aware of their situation.
For example, the area”s air quality has been steadily shifting seemingly by the hour. It”s crucial for people to know when going outside would actually be hazardous to their health. This is one piece of the puzzle people can do something about.
It is also important to know what issues are really worth being concerned over. One such issue is the likelihood of smoke permeating indoor areas. Many parts of various buildings in the region have recently included the distinctive smell of smoke, and that”s a problem that may be difficult to deal with.
Above all else, residents need to take care of themselves and others, and that”s not so hard to do. Stay indoors as often as possible. If you smell smoke, vacate the area and find somewhere with cleaner air as soon as possible.
Wear a mask when you”re outside to help reduce the amount of smoke entering your lungs, especially if your breathing is labored. Even if you don”t feel bothered by the smoke, avoid exercising outside until the smoke clears.
There”s little reason to worry. In times of crisis, the Moscow community has historically done a great job of banding together into a strong support system. When the going gets tough, we”re there for each other.
This holds true for a lot of the global community right now as well. When the wildfires in the Northwest became a bigger danger to people than they have been in years past, the nation and even people from other nations have stepped up to help with the efforts to control the flames.
This is what people should put their focus, and their appreciation, on in times like these. A lot of people are risking their lives to extinguish and control these fires, and a lot of people have lost their homes and other precious belongings in fires this year. Take a moment to be thankful for our firefighters and appreciate what we have.
Throughout each year when things are at their best, we sometimes find ourselves at our worst. We fight, we complain, we sabotage. But during states of emergency, suddenly we realize what”s truly important and unite together in ways we usually do not.
While the smoke is thick in Moscow and our struggles are very real right now, the people of Moscow will get through it together. The smoke will clear, and afterward we”ll find ourselves a stronger community than we were before.
– EB