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I like maps! The reality of climate change came home for us in the inner United States just 7 months ago. Back in 2007 when I retired, I thought the mountains of North Carolina were relatively safe, compared to say, Florida where I lived then, or the eastern states in general. At least for climate change issues...good clean air and water, just a few thunderstorms, maybe a few days with snow. Boy did things change last year!
Just last year, following the tropical storm aka Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, there were weeks of clear skies and warm days following (as shown in the weather map above). I live right at a little dark smudge in western North Carolina. Dry weather was somewhat helpful as recovery efforts helped find people and things which had been washed away by the floods and mud slides. We were cut off by having all major highways also damaged either by mud slides or the lanes of asphalt washed away. 4 days after the storm rushed through the area we were able to go south on one interstate, but not north, east or west yet.
For 2 weeks there was no electricity in the Asheville area, and for much longer there was no drinkable water...though the brown stuff that was full of sludge was ok to use for just flushing toilets. It wasn't until November 20 the water engineers (including the Army Corps of Engineers) figured out how to give us drinkable water, due to the extensive turbidity of clay particles suspended in our nearby reservoir.
We could again shower in our homes, and wash dishes. Many of us had become so used to bottled water for all purposes, we kept drinking it. It was really cleaner than the tap water still. I gratefully had some respite in South Carolina with my cousin John, and then in Pittsboro NC with my friend Martha until we had electricity again in Black Mountain.
Americorps volunteers taking applications for FEMA aid at the Swannanoa library.
FEMA took my application, by the way, and I didn't see any help for all the groceries I threw away when the refrigerator stopped working. Though I told them repeatedly what I'd said in my first interview, that I'd had to evacuate to survive with my C-Pap machine, they said I would receive vouchers to stay in motels. I told them by phone that I didn't need vouchers, I just wished to have reimbursement for groceries like my neighbors had received. Then in March of 2025 I finally received a check for $750. I had to submit a letter verifying that my electricity was off for those 2 weeks, from the Duke Power Co.
Well, that's what happens when you let an elder tell a short story...it can just go on and on!
What we are, what we have, even our salvation, all is gift, all is grace, not to be achieved but to be received as a gift freely given. |
Desmond Tutu |
