Damage and loss

There are some things insurance does not cover – and even if it did, the loss would remain.

There has been such an outpouring of grief and loss over the destruction by Saturday’s storm surge of Kenton-on-Sea’s iconic Carriage Rock. And understandably: it’s not “just a rock”.

No natural landmark or human-made monument is just what you see.

Embodied in it are memories and hopes.

Sometimes, it embodies for a community the assurance that no matter how difficult life gets, or no matter how much the social, political and economic landscape around us changes, humanity is resilient and – like big truths – some things stand forever.

Monuments and landmarks can be a great source of comfort.

They aren’t forever: forces of nature, human conflict and changes in the balance of power or social relations all have the power to effect what can feel like cataclysmic changes in our personal, social and indeed physical landscapes.

It was fortuitous that an international conference on disaster management took place in Port Alfred in the week leading up to last weekend’s reminder of the power of nature.

Ndlambe was fortunate that it was mostly beach infrastructure that was damaged by the storm: damage to homes and community facilities is of course far more serious.

Many speakers at last week’s conference focused on the fact that the better prepared communities are for catastrophic events, the better the outcome for them.

Early warning systems, attention to building design and placement, and emergency evacuation plans are becoming increasingly important as climate change affects the world more and more.

But psychological resilience, too, is becoming increasingly important as communities face more challenges – and more loss.

John McLaren, whose photos we’ve shared on page 1, has some helpful words for those feeling the loss of Carriage Rock (and what it represents to them).

He wrote on his Facebook page: “In the grand symphony of existence, change is the ever-shifting melody that weaves through the fabric of time.

“It’s the force that propels us forward, shaping our experiences, and moulding the landscapes of our lives.

“Yet, amidst this constant flux, there exists a profound and timeless essence –a quiet, unchanging core that remains unyielding to the passage of years.

“Gratitude is a gentle beacon, illuminating the cherished memories and reminding us that even in parting, we were blessed to have known such beauty.”

He also wrote, on a less philosophical and more pragmatic note: “Even at low tide the power of these small waves is incredible. The kinetic energy of a wave is directly proportional to the square of it’s speed.

“With gale-force winds propelling huge waves faster than normal, the energy increases exponentially.

“So it’s understandable that Carriage Rock would eventually give way to these powerful forces.”

As author Barbara Kingsolver said: “The changes we dread most may contain our salvation.”