Disaster's effects felt far and wide

Once upon a time, news could travel no faster than a horse could gallop, and the impact of the events it concerned diminished with each hoofprint.

With today's instant electronic communications and jet airliner travel, however, far-off occurrences make themselves felt worldwide.

Such is the case of the huge tidal wave, triggered by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, that crashed through 11 countries and killed at least 40,000 people and counting. We will never know just how many perished in Sunday's disaster, but it could easily climb into six figures, especially when secondary tragedies such as disease are figured in.

Millions are homeless, and medical supplies, food and water purification systems are pouring into southern Asia as part of what the United Nations says will be the largest relief effort the world has ever seen.

It didn't take long for the disaster to make itself felt in Nebraska. According to an Associated Press story, a Lincoln woman was waiting to hear from her son, who was traveling in Thailand and planned to go scuba diving near the epicenter of the earthquake.

Officials of Lincoln's Back to the Bible missionary radio organization were relieved to learn that all 50 of its employees in India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia were safe.

But many more Nebraska and Kansas ties are bound to turn up as time goes by. The death toll in Thailand alone included at least 700 foreign tourists, according to an Associated Press story.

And who knows the economic and political effects the disaster will have? Will oil production in Indonesia, a major OPEC member, be interrupted? How will prices of other products, either thrown into high demand or short supply, be effected? Will outsourced services, such as software support and call centers, often based in India, be interrupted?

How much of a strain will relief agencies be able to endure? And, as the world's last remaining super power, what role will the United States be able to play, especially in light of our obligations in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Stand by.

As the full impact of Sunday's tsunami rolls around the globe, it will become harder and harder to deny that we are all part of one world.