JENN McKINLAY: Over the past few days, I'm sure everyone has been watching the horrific destruction Hurricane Helene caused in the southeast. For those of us with family there, it has been doubly worrisome. Yesterday, I received this text from my cousin Sue. Hearing the description of what is happening in Asheville from someone I know (who like me grew up in CT and knows hurricanes) made it all that much more devastating.
"I'm sorry for not responding. We had zero cell service. Just got it back. At home, we have no electricity, water, and originally cell service. It's hard to describe how bad this is. The mountain was destroyed. Roads washed out, sinkholes opened up taking them out. In ground services hanging in air over the sink hole. A lake developed between our house and our neighbors. Took out half our road. Trees blocking practically every road. Seemed to take down the power with them everywhere they fell, transformers destroyed. Water mains gone. But we got a generator through the goodness of a stranger, waited in line for 6 hours to get gas, and got it running. So it took four days, but we now have 4 cases of drinking water, and the frig powered, and a one burner induction plate. We can flush toilets with rain water. We luckily had just bought two galvanized tubs 6x2x30". They filled to the top during the storm! 30 " of rain!!! It's mind boggling!
- Alabama - Alabama VOAD (alvoad.org).
- Florida - FLVOAD (wpengine.com).
- Georgia - Georgia VOAD (gavoad.org).
- Kentucky - Kentucky Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (kentuckyvoad.org).
- North Carolina - North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (ncvoad.org).
- South Carolina - SCemd.org/recover/volunteer-and-donate/.
- Tennessee - Tennessee VOAD (tnvoad.org),
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ReplyDeleteIt's hard to fathom weather that simply destroys a mountain, but as bad as it is, it's good that your cousin and her family are all safe . . . . Thanks, Jenn, for the list of organizations and ways to help . . . sometimes it's easy to simply feel overwhelmed and not be able to think of how to help . . .
ReplyDeleteOur youngest daughter and her family [including those sweet grandbabies who spent the summer with us] live in Georgia, and were without power for several days. Now, although much of the city where they live is still without power, some areas have been restored, including [thankfully] hers. They didn't have rain/flood damage like North Carolina, but they did have significant wind damage. The aftermath of Helene is simply mindboggling . . . .
Thanks for the list of organization to support.
ReplyDeleteThe reports are heartbreaking. So glad your cousin and others survived and are able to go forward. Bless all the Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, and other volunteers, as well as Christee. It's always good to have a list of reputable local aid organizations.
ReplyDeleteHugh's sister and her husband retired to Asheville about ten years ago, and were grateful not to live near a river. One of their daughters and her family live in Charlotte and Jessie found back roads the day after the storm to drive to Asheville and bring her parents out of the mountains. We are grateful.
I'd love to send Christie books but am on a solo writing retreat on the Cape (yay!) and won't be able to send anything until next Wednesday. Can she still use them mid-month.
DeleteTwo of your cousin's comments I found devastating: "The mountain was destroyed." and "We've lost whole towns — just gone." I can't even picture that. I'm glad your cousin is safe. Thanks for the donation information. My husband and I already donate to World Central Kitchen. Ditto re: Chef Andre being a hero.
ReplyDeleteJenn, thanks for the list of organizations. I know that pets suffer a great deal during widespread disasters and there are probably organizations trying to respond to their needs now, too.
ReplyDeleteI'll see what I have that I can send Christie.
It's shocking, all that damage so far inland. We have usually donated to the United Church of Christ Hurricane fund--they can be counted on to get the help where it's most needed.
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