BY THE WAY: VOLUNTEERS' CHANCE TO DO THE EXTRAORDINARY

As distasteful as natural disasters are, they do seem to have a way of allowing people to turn the ordinary into something extraordinary.

It happened in 1993 and the same thing could occur again. This year, however, the Mississippi has swollen to alarming levels in a shorter period of time.

That means people who are thinking about volunteering their services for sandbagging or providing transportation for flood victims don't have much time to make up their minds if they hope to make a difference.

Christine McGhee regretted not having helped out in 1993, so she didn't hesitate to make her way to the Red Star District to fill bags and shovel sand last Sunday. She has been back every day since.

She's only an inch shorter than 4-foot-11 and weighs just 98 pounds, but the 70-year-old Scott City woman said she is ready and willing to help out as long as she is needed.

Shortly after McGhee arrived at Red Star, four Southeast Missouri State University students showed up. They simply asked what was needed and began sandbagging. "We're experienced at this," said one student. "We were here a couple of years ago."

There were still not enough volunteers to make the mound of sand disappear into bags before daylight gave way to nightfall.

The Mississippi is expected to crest at 47 feet today. The river climbed to a record level of 48.49 Aug. 8, 1993. With rain in the forecast the next two days, it doesn't take much imagination to realize the old record could be broken this weekend.

Cape Girardeau Police Department special assignment officer Betty Knoll appreciates the grit and determination of the volunteers she has directed at Red Star thus far.

However, she said more are needed to protect some homes on Spanish and Main Street that are in immediate danger.

Knoll seemed confident that once word got out that volunteers were needed, they would come. Hopefully her prediction will come to pass. The Red Cross is still looking for volunteers to deliver food and drink to workers and victims. There is also a need for volunteers to do casework for clients. All disaster training is free of charge and would take little time to learn.

Although the danger is as real as the flood of two years ago, it seems the same sense of urgency is lacking.

People are still willing to watch and wait rather than take the safe path to evacuation.

And would-be volunteers seem to be waiting to see how high the river gets before making a decision.

Said one city official: "As high as the river gets, the sandbags need to be higher."

That takes people who quietly go about doing something ordinary with no promise of reward save a sandwich and soda from the Salvation Army or Red Cross.

The extraordinary, however, comes to the surface when people like Christine McGhee make those around her feel important about wanting to help strangers.

"I usually stay in shape by doing yard work, but this is more enjoyable," she said. "It's everyone working toward the same goal that makes it mean something."

~Bill Heitland is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.