2nd Responders

 

A crisis happens. Call 9-1-1. The air is filled with sirens as marked cars and trucks with flashing lights race to the scene. Uniformed professionals, trained and equipped, will arrive and do the necessary duties to solve the confuffle. If there are injuries, they will be temporarily treated then carted off to a local medical center. These are the 1^st Responders.

When the yellow tape is taken down and the bodies removed and the hoses rolled up, what is left? A shell of a house? A blood spot on the walkway? Crumpled metal and broken glass on the street?

Who are you going to call?

The 2^nd Responders. Those who will clean the streets to make clear for other vehicles to arrive. Those who are the ones to clean up the toxic rubble in hazmat suits and remove it to another site. Those who arrive to assess the damage and cut a check for food and shelter while the future is being muddled over. City or county folks in day glo yellow best work to repair or reconstruct the infrastructure while bucket trucks restring the power supply.

Then come the construction crew to attempt to bring back what the bank still wants mortgage payments on. Chain saws and leaf blowers attempt to renew the landscape. These are the 3^rd responders.

The 1^st responders of the EMS will deliver the sick, wounded, ill or otherwise discombobulated to the 2^nd responders of doctors and nurses who wrap, blot, cut and sew with shots to alleviate the discomfort while checking insurance coverage. Other 2^nd responders will identify the remains of casualties, cataloging the numbers to notify the next of kin and the news media for disposal. The 3^rd responders will provide the emotional final resting spot with the stretch limo, a few words and a marker.