poem21045
Tribunus Plebis
I don’t know if anyone noticed, but I haven’t interacted on CF for a while. I live in Asheville, NC, and we’re ground zero for the destruction from hurricane Helene.
I had no power, no water, no internet for 4 days. Power came on two days ago, internet came on 2 hours ago (hence this post), but water will be out indefinitely. Optimistic estimate is that we’ll have water in 3-4 weeks. Others say at least 6 weeks, maybe even 4 months. The Asheville water plant was completely destroyed, as were the two backup plants. Hundreds are dead, including my son-in-law, swept away by the 35 mph waters of the Swannanoa River, which rose 25 feet above flood stage.
Things improved a lot today. FEMA and various NGOs are able to get here now (the interstates and almost all other roads into and out of Asheville were blocked or destroyed at first). I had a diner tonight from World Central Kitchen (it was delicious!), who has set up several sites around town to serve anyone who wants a good meal. Trader Joes has rushed 50 truckloads of food to us and is selling much of it at wholesale. And after a week I finally got a shower at a YMCA about 15 miles from here that is on a different water system. I never enjoyed a shower more. And, for those of you who appreciate my attempts at humor, after I said thanks to the young staff lady as I was leaving, I turned back and said, “You know, I thought I smelled a bear in my yard yesterday," [not uncommon here] “but it was just me."
Anyway, amid the intense sorrow and destruction, I thought I’d let you folks know that I’m OK. It will be a long recovery, both physical and emotional, for many people (like my daughter and two grandkids) who lost loved ones.
I may not post much in the coming weeks.
I had no power, no water, no internet for 4 days. Power came on two days ago, internet came on 2 hours ago (hence this post), but water will be out indefinitely. Optimistic estimate is that we’ll have water in 3-4 weeks. Others say at least 6 weeks, maybe even 4 months. The Asheville water plant was completely destroyed, as were the two backup plants. Hundreds are dead, including my son-in-law, swept away by the 35 mph waters of the Swannanoa River, which rose 25 feet above flood stage.
Things improved a lot today. FEMA and various NGOs are able to get here now (the interstates and almost all other roads into and out of Asheville were blocked or destroyed at first). I had a diner tonight from World Central Kitchen (it was delicious!), who has set up several sites around town to serve anyone who wants a good meal. Trader Joes has rushed 50 truckloads of food to us and is selling much of it at wholesale. And after a week I finally got a shower at a YMCA about 15 miles from here that is on a different water system. I never enjoyed a shower more. And, for those of you who appreciate my attempts at humor, after I said thanks to the young staff lady as I was leaving, I turned back and said, “You know, I thought I smelled a bear in my yard yesterday," [not uncommon here] “but it was just me."
Anyway, amid the intense sorrow and destruction, I thought I’d let you folks know that I’m OK. It will be a long recovery, both physical and emotional, for many people (like my daughter and two grandkids) who lost loved ones.
I may not post much in the coming weeks.
