The situation in Sumatra and other areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami on Dec. 26th has gone from bad to tragic.  It is currently being reported that the death toll is over 70,000; it is expected to go higher still.

Many people can't relate to what that really means.  It is hard for me to.  Let me see if I can put it in perspective for you.

Imagine that everyone in your entire family is dead.  How many is that?  For most of us, even if we have large families, that is at most 10 or 12 people, probably less.

Now add all of your neighbors.  What do we have, 20 people?  30?  Maybe even 50?

Now add everyone you have ever known in your life.  Probably more than 100, but probably less than 1000? 

For me, here is a realization that puts it into perspective:

Webb City Missouri (my home town) has a population of about 10,000.  Joplin (of which Webb City is a suburb) has a population of about 45,000.  Carl Junction (another suburb) has a population of about 5,000.  Then we add Saginaw, Duquesne, Duenweg, Oronogo, Alba, Purcell, Neck City, Carterville, Royal Heights, Smithville, Reddings Mill, and Seneca.

Now imagine that every man, woman, and child in every one of those towns is dead.

Take a moment and do what I have done.  Find some place near you, some place familiar to you that has about 70,000 people. 

Now think about them all dead.

That's a sobering thought. 

There are relief organizations that need help.  They need money, they need goods, they need volunteers.  Do what you can to help them. 

British Red Cross
American Red Cross
Red Cross Red Crescent
Medecins Sans Frontieres (USA)
Medecins Sans Frontieres (Other countries)