Stay With Us: The Long Road Ahead

A rainbow stretched across the sky as we sat on the porch eating dinner. The kids named the colors one by one.

That night, the rains began.

The flooding stopped 8 days ago, but there continues to be an outpouring of tears flowing from eyes, and of care from the hearts of good people.

The aftermath of this catastrophe is unimaginable.

Based on reports circulating on the ground, the “official” death toll is vastly underestimated and will likely be in the thousands.

Since communication channels only just returned (almost 140,000 households still don’t have power in WNC), we are still in the early days of understanding the scope of devastation.

Besides the loss-of-life, in my immediate circle I know multiple families who are displaced, lost their homes and belongings, lost their businesses/livelihoods, and sustained serious injuries. Not a single person in this area will be unaffected by the impacts. Many have already been informed that insurance won’t cover their losses.

The lasting downstream effects are yet to be seen, measured, and comprehended. The floodwaters are highly toxic due to multiple plastics and chemical spills - they are burning through rubber boots. Over 70% of our region’s potable water infrastructure is compromised and will take a couple months to restore. Even when it is restored, there are likely unseen health impacts that will affect this community at large.

Many of the local businesses that did survive the flood no longer have a physical location to offer their services and wares. The impacts on the local economy and financial stability of residents will be felt ongoingly for a significant amount of time. Thousands have left the region. Those who are present here are spending as much time as they can on the ground supporting recovery efforts.

Through the overwhelming grief and intensity, there has been incredible beauty. The generosity and community care of both local residents and outsiders has stunned and humbled us to our core. Neighbors helping neighbors with meals, water, showers, laundry, childcare, and temporary lodging. Hardworking people chainsawing downed trees and fixing roads for days on end, doing everything they can to restore some order. The collaboration, resiliency, and generosity everyone has shown has touched and healed our souls.

I know people who are watching from the outside are eager to help. Thank you for your heart. I’m here to tell you that we are at the beginning of a very long road to recovery. Multiple months and most certainly years. STAY WITH US. I know this story is hot right now but as soon as it fades away, please don’t leave our side.

In terms of offering support from afar, here’s what I am seeing and hearing from within the region. There has been a huge influx of necessary supplies (food, water, fuel, etc.) donated. So much so that relief efforts on the ground are struggling with getting things distributed to those who need it. Information and needs are shifting rapidly. For the latest information/updates on how to help, check this instagram page.

A directly effective way to help is to give CASH directly to individuals and organizations on the ground. Most of us here are doing person-to-person support with all of our time and working with no current income.

Organizations:

Some individuals I personally know:

I know many more who need support but I don’t yet have their payment info. We are all reeling and at max capacity. Give us some grace and time - most of us haven’t even wrapped our heads around longer term needs as we have been focused on moment-to-moment SURVIVAL. I also intend to send out a list of local businesses you can purchase from when things are more stable.

If you choose to give to my family, you can do so via venmo or paypal. Since electricity returned to our home, my family has been cooking and feeding people, giving showers and laundry to those without water, cleaning out flooded businesses, offering childcare for volunteers, gathering and distributing supplies, and connecting people with needed resources. We are creating a fund specific to hurricane relief.

Finally, there is a need for herbal medicines. Tinctures for immune support, adaptogens, respiratory, nervines, support for grief/shock/heartbreak. Also wound salve and muscle balms. These would be greatly appreciated. If you can donate, please hit reply to contact me to coordinate and distribute.

I woke up from sleep and wrote this from midnight to 2:30am. Currently, life is moment-to-moment and the task list on urgent projects within the community is endless in addition to mothering young children through a crisis. If you have never been in a disaster area ongoingly, it’s impossible to understand how all-consuming it is. I hope that in the coming times I will be able to document more.

I am incredibly thankful to be alive and surrounded by strong, bright, resilient souls. These events are teaching me so much about what’s truly important and the heart of humanity.

Long Live Appalachia,

Virginia

 

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