Aftermath

It was an absolutely beautiful day today in Horry County, SC. Quite the contrast to what is actually happening here. Rivers are rising in the Eastern Carolinas after the heavy rains of Hurricane Florence. Homes and businesses are flooding, roads are awash, creatures are seeking higher ground, folks are struggling to save what they can as the tannin colored blackwater overflows it’s banks.

The Waccamaw, Pee Dee, Lumber, Cape Fear, and many other rivers are carrying the remains of Florence down to the Intracoastal Waterway and Low Country estuaries. The soil is saturated, houses and farms stand like outposts, fields have turned onto lakes, roads and highways into boat canals, and the water is still rising. It’s a long slow-rolling process that will take weeks upon weeks to complete.

I’ve seen water reshape landscape many times. Even a little trickle makes it’s mark. But waters such as these can easily move mountains of vegetation and soil and eat up roadways and homes and anything else in it’s path. There’s not much a person can do except wait. Wait and hope it settles down enough so you can eventually see what’s left. So you can pick up the pieces and rebuild if you can afford to or have the energy to do so.

Those of us who managed to avoid the flood waters, who still have our homes and possessions, know how fortunate we are. Truth is most of us have always been more fortunate. Historically low lying non-arable land was sold to poorer folks here in the Carolinas. No one else wanted it. Their families have continued to live on those lands for generations. But those lands are more susceptible to devastating floods and the people living on them have fewer resources to deal with such events. I’m not sure how you rectify that. I’m pretty certain State and Federal government have no idea (or inclination) to do so.

We all have to live some place, and some places are better than others, but clearly we all don’t have the same options. As a society, as neighbors, as decent caring human beings, we now have an opportunity to help each other. Local churches are busy right now, organizations are gathering supplies and food, average everyday people are rolling up their sleeves to physically lend a hand, and those who can are making financial donations to help keep things going. It’s amazing to see.

There’s more good in this world than bad, a lot more, and in times like this we really need it.