Before the Ice: Why Community Is Built Long Before Crisis

Neighbors of West Monroe,

Like many of you, the recent ice storm challenged me in ways I didn’t expect. We were cold, disconnected, and reminded how quickly normal life can stop. Though many pulled together as the storm ensued, it would have been better, more advantageous, for us to be ready before it hit. I did fairly well under the circumstances because I was prepared, but I still felt unsettled because the storm hit harder than I could have imagined. My thoughts and prayers went out to my community and the surrounding areas.

In the months leading up to the storm, I tried—imperfectly but sincerely—to encourage connection, reflection, and prayer within our neighborhood and beyond. That wasn’t about predicting disaster, but about a little foresight. It came from a deep care for this community and a belief that when we slow down, reflect, and come together, we are stronger. Please review the articles from December 2025 and January 2026, where the focus was on working on ourselves from within, in a private space, because solid individuals form the framework of a solid community.

Writing and sharing those reflections through West Monroe Neighbors taught me something important: preparedness isn’t just about supplies or forecasts—it’s about relationships, communication, and whether we feel responsible for one another. One morning, prior to the ice storm, I even stopped one of our neighbors on her morning walk to share my heart’s desire, and the heart of God—that as a neighborhood, we needed to come together in prayer because of the condition of our country and the things to come.

Well, the ice storm arrived before we could get anything organized, and it showed us where we are resilient and where we are vulnerable. My hope is that we use this moment not to assign credit or blame, but to strengthen our sense of community—checking on one another, sharing resources, and staying connected before the next challenge arrives.

I’m grateful for this neighborhood, and I’m open to continuing the conversation about how we support one another moving forward. The articles I wrote for West Monroe Neighbors were shared with the Chamber to post on their Facebook page, and I mentioned in that same email that the mayor should also receive a copy.