Dharma: 970901人間菩提英文版Guarding against the Hurricane with Caution and Humble Piety

Guarding against the Hurricane with Caution and Humble Piety 每日播出內容｜

人間菩提--虔誠戒慎作防範

Our Tzu Chi volunteers in the U.S. have been on high alert in the last few days and have been holding emergency meetings intensively.

At this moment, our Tzu Chi USA Headquarters in Los Angeles is holding a meeting with our Tzu Chi volunteers in other U.S. states via video-conferencing on emergency relief and disaster prevention. Why are they on such a high alert?

Why is there such urgency?

It's because there's a major hurricane heading towards the U.S. Gulf Coast---

Hurricane Gustav. This hurricane swept through the Dominican Republic and Haiti,

Causing many casualties along the Caribbean. Having swept through these areas and caused so much devastation already, is the hurricane starting to weaken in strength?

No, it was still gaining in strength the past few days.

(But by yesterday, it had weakened)

(to a category 3 hurricane)

How strong is a category 3 hurricane?

On August29, 2005, the city of New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina which was a category 3 hurricane. At that time, eighty percent of New Orleans became flooded, severely destroying the city's infrastructure. Three years after being devastated by Katrina. New Orleans still hasn't completely recovered.

So now, the four states along the southeast coast of the U.S. are on a state of high alert with orders for mandatory evacuations for residents living along the Gulf Coast.

The roads leading out of New Orleands have been especially congested as people evacuated. This is owing to warnings from the mayor:

Everyone, we mustn't let down our guard. In our daily lives, we must remain vigilant at all times, let alone when warnings for such a major hurricane have been issued.

Three years ago it was Katrina, and now it's Gustav. Forecasters have issued a hurricane warning for over 500 miles of the U.S. Gulf Coast spanning Mississippi.

Alabama. Texas & Louisiana. See what a large area it covers.

With it affecting such a large area, how can I not worry?

We also see that our Tzu Chi volunteers in Dallas. Texas and members of the Red Cross have been busy preparing the Dallas Convention Center where over 1,000 evacuees are expected to go.

They've been busy preparing the center for the last two days.

Tzu Chi volunteers and members from the Red Cross all came to help with the cleaning (and setting up camp cots)

This is a show of respect to those who have been forced to leave their homes like refugees due to natural disasters. Our hearts really go out to them and we should be there to provide support and comfort with respect.

(Even if it is only a temporary shelter), we must still strive to provide them with

a comfortable place to stay. So, our volunteers prepared blankets for those coming to the shelter.

But, there are not enough. What can we do?

Tzu Chi offices in other states will (provide what provisions they have)

That's why Tzu Chi volunteers across the U.S. are holding a meeting via video-conferencing to see how many supplies each office has and which offices are able to provide blankets. manpower. or other resources.

See, though the U.S. is so big and many of our offices are far away from Dallas, the heads of our Tzu Chi offices across the U.S. are communicating with each other online.

I'm truly very worried. So, I hope that everyone will remain vigilant and make the necessary preparations.

But foremost, everyone must first take good care of their families. Everyone should make sure of their personal safety.

Those who have been ordered to evacuate, should evacuate.

Don't be careless and unguarded.

Don't think that we can overpower Nature.

That's not possible.

With the hurricane being so strong, we really should be afraid and worried.

We mustn't relax and let down our guard. All the same time, we should call on everyone across the U.S. to harbor an attitude of humble piety & vigilance.

Only by having a heart of sincere piety, will our prayers reach the Buddhas

and heavenly spirits above. So, I hope that everyone (will be on the alert and pray sincerely)for the next few days to pass by in peace and safety.

So, I implore you all once again, to e humbly pious, and cautious.

Let us pray sincerely for those in the U.S. that Gustav will become weaker and weaker and that is impact will be minimal and that its impact will be minimal.

So that all those living there, though shaken,

will be unharmed, and that everyone can remain safe and well.

So, everyone must remain vigilant and be prudent, cautious, and sincerely pious.

To Tzu Chi volunteers in the U.S., please remember to harbor a heart of sincere piety and vigilance.

First, protect your own safety. For Tzu Chi volunteers living in the affected states, please look after your own safety first and foremost if you've been ordered to evacuate, please do so. Everyone, please look after your safety.

Even if there are those who need help, you must make sure of your personal safety first.

But seeing how carefully everyone has prepared, my mind is more at ease.

There is less likelihood of danger when preparations have been made.

All in all, I'm truly grateful to everyone for making preparations and remaining vigilant. In places where there is peace and safety. We must help make preparations

for those areas where alerts have been issued.

All the same time, we must pray for them sincerely. We must all be pious and cautious.

We pray for you with sincere piety that the next few days will pass by in peace and safety. Best wishes to you all and thank you.

超強颶風來勢洶
群民撤離虔戒慎
殷鑑不遠作防範
祈願無災盡得安

針對來勢洶洶的古斯塔夫颶風，證嚴上人在今天早上的志工早會開示，再次呼籲大家，要戒慎虔誠防災難，千萬不要認為人定勝天。上人也叮嚀美國慈濟人，照顧災民之前要先照顧好自己，人人戒慎提高警覺，才能安全度過災難。

古斯塔夫颶風重創海地和多明尼加之後，繼續增強威力，直撲美國東南部而來。三年前歷經卡崔娜風災的紐奧良市，市長以世紀颶風呼籲民眾提高警覺，除了做好防備之外，更下達了強制撤離令，要求居民收拾家當，緊急避難。

美國慈濟志工也在當地政府的邀請下，和紅十字會合作，設立安置中心。證嚴上人在志工早會上，特別叮嚀志工，首要之務，一定要先照顧好自己，才有能力照顧災民，注意平安之外，更要配合政府呼籲，該撤離就要撤離。

歷史殷鑑不遠，面對全球暖化，氣候異常，期待人人戒慎虔誠，提高警覺，讓芸芸眾生有驚無險，平安度過。