Leanne,
Just thought you had some great comments and my heart goes out to those in SW
Florida who sustained heavy damage and loss of life.  And my heart goes out
to all the other communities and my own community that were severly impacted by
this storm.   I wanted to add that Hurricane Charley went across central
Florida and exited through Volusia County.  I happen to live in that County and
the small town I live in is certainly devastated.

Yesterday, I went to the grocery story to get ice and a cooler for my 81 year
old friend because her power was out.  As I drove to the store, I saw my
neighborhood.  Trees toppled onto houses, cars smashed, wires dangling everywhere.
 I went to the 24 hour Winn Dixie grocery store--they weren't open--no
electricity.  I went to the Publix grocery store further down the street--they
weren't open--no electricity.  It was a challenge driving--no traffic lights
working, downed lines on side streets, smashed concrete, broken glass, pieces of
metal and signs strewn about. Nothing was open.  What a shock--not even
MacDonalds or Burger King open.  My town had turned upside down in one brief encounter
with a Force of Nature.

Last night the line to the only gas station in town that had gas was
incredible long.  It reminded me of the gas crisis in the 70's.  Thankfully I had
gased up just before Charley came through.   I am one of the lucky ones in my
neighborhood, I have power.  Although my cherry laurel tree rests on my power line
that goes from my house to the pole, to my amazement I still have
electricity.  I don't expect that to be fixed anytime soon because the devastation is
huge in our community.  I have friends that have well water and are dependent on
electricity to pump that water to them.  So not only do they not have
electricity, they don't have water.

What do women do in this community that are bottlefeeding?  Some don't have
access to water, no stores are open, and some people can't even get out of
their driveways because downed trees and power lines block their way out.  I see
humanity at its best, neighbors are reaching out to each other and helping each
other.  We realize that we are in this thing together and the worries of the
world outside ourselves disappears for the moment.

James Grant once said that "Breastfeeding is a safety net against the worst
effects of poverty."  Breastfeeding is the safety net against natural
disasters.  I can't imagine the panic a mother must face, when her world turns upside
down.  If she bottlefeeds, how will she feed her baby?  I have lived in Florida
since 1978 and gone through hurricanes and fires.  When I was breastfeeding
my babies during that time, I had a peace I can't even describe to others.  In
the midst of a disaster it becomes the one stable element in your life.
There is a peace in knowing that your baby will be fed despite the upside down
world you are living in.  May we educate the world to understand that
breastfeeding is not just a safety net against poverty but against natural and man-made
disasters.
Valerie W. MClain, IBCLC



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