JUDYCHINA

It was July 22^nd, and my mother’s phone rang when she was driving along the damp road. It was from relatives of her hometown.

“I am so glad you are still alive! You didn’t pick up the phone when I called you last time, and we were all deeply anxious and terrified! ……”

“We were so lucky,” my mom said, “that we were all staying at home when the rainstorm arrived. Life is so vulnerable sometimes……”

The 7.21 Beijing rainstorm, which has taken the lives of more than 77 people, has gained the top attention of people all over China. It has revealed both the kindness & cohesion power of ordinary Chinese citizens and the problems of municipal facilities & the work of our government.

Right after the rainstorm arrived, people who have never met before have united to save lives. They offer drives, food and housing to whoever needed; some even jumped down to the flooding road to save the more vulnerable ones. One policeman, has even sacrificed his own life in the rescue. Love has also spread online. On weibo (a microblogging site like twitter in China) and renren (a social network site like facebook in China), millions of posts on rescue help and rainstorm precaution measures were liked and shared.

However, the government could have done better in this calamity. Although it does take huge effort to build the draining system, it is necessary to plan it for the heaviest flood possible. What is more, immediate and reliable information about the rescue and traffic should also be better provided.