Galvanized! A most unexpected consequence of recent events. Deadly storms, raging floods, impossibly difficult areas to access. Insurmountable odds. Hopeless expectations! In the hills of Applachia, they call days like these “a good start”
Where to begin? Put a shovel in that dirt and keep digging until you get that area cleared.
Care for the injured. The dead will care for themselves.
What do you need? Everything! Can you be more specific, more basic? Water, food, medicine. Bandages. We need to feed people and livestock. Ok got it. Let’s get this done.
Phones not working. Roads are washed out. A bunch of houses are just gone. Ok, we’ll hike out, see what we can see. We’ll find some neighbors who will help us get the supplies that are needed.
You have any money? Shoot, I didn’t have any before the storm. Besides, money is no good here. Neighbors helping neighbors. Got to be that way. No choice.
They’re coming. Heard from Louise that her brother Tom has a group of guys from the other side of the mountain coming with chainsaws. They’re hauling in some gas, but just enough to keep the work going. Buddy said Ned’s ex in Charlotte sent word by Avis’s boy Charlie. Yeah, he has that four wheeler. He’s been hauling water in for back toward the interstate. Yes, I know it’s closed, but there are a bunch of those ATVs running up from down Greenville way. Just a few cases at a time, but it’s helping.
Anyways, Charlie says that Claire, Ned’s ex over in Charlotte, sent word to Ned that their son Lester has got a group of vets that are getting a bunch of helicopters ready down at Greenville’s airfield. They need someone on our end to help organize on our end, Ned said you can’t do it. Says you already got stuff to do. Well I reckon so! You know, like who needs recuseing, who needs what supplies?
Vets right? Adam over at the motorcycle store. He speaks their lingo. Used to be special forces down at Bragg. I’ll round Ned and Charlie. You track down Adam and see what we can get going. You? Just keep track of who is where, what is needed. Write down who’s dead. Somebody’s going to need that info!
Heard that Ester’s girl Wilma is in a bad way. She needs insulin, like right now. Bad diabetic. Ask around. See if anybody had some to spare. No, for real! We got to keep her alive somehow. It’s just us. We got to do what we got to do.
Heard from Harlan that his boy Lester walked out down route nine a fair piece. No, it’s pretty much washed out. About 11 or 12 miles out, he ran into some state troopers. Yeah, they were hiking too. Said there about 4 miles back, the road was not good, but was passable. The churches down that way were setting up some tents and generators and stuff. People from all around there were bringing stuff. With what Lester covered add that to the 4 miles the troopers covered. Yep, right at 15 or so miles to where they are. Send somebody to find Charlie. No. On second thought, you stay put. Have Charlie track me down with his four wheeler. We can see about riding out to the supply setup out on route 9. Maybe Ned’s ex can get word to them heloes to start shuttling them supplies our way. We need to let them troopers know to keep and eye out for them. We are going to need some tents to set up our own end of the supply chain. I’ll see if them troopers and churches down there can send some in with the first deliveries.
Just hear that StarLink hubs are being set up around the area. Hopefully we get some phone service directly. Talked to Adam, he’s all in. Said he’d have a supply drop and store site up in a few hours. Them vets are amazing! He already has SATCOMMS. Already been in touch with some vet friends. They got this!
Government Winnie’s? Not a chance. They would just come in and muck it all up. Anyway, Adam talk to a friend down at Bragg, Liberty, whatever. The special ops are primed and ready to come up here, but no orders! Can’t do squat without them orders.
His friend has been in touch with Billy Graham’s outfit. Yes, I know Billy is dead. Anyhow, they have got a big honking Chinook, one of them two rotor jobs headed there to pick up a bunch of supplies. They wanting to know where to bring’m. Adam told his friend that he would have a bivouac ready after 1300 tomorrow down next to the motorcycle place.
What? They’re ask about insured, dead, folks that need to be taken down to the hospital at Greenville. Yes it’s open. well they think it’s open. Get Dr Earl together will Adam to see about staging them injured folks for evac tomorrow after lunch. They say as many as 15 or so at a time can fly.
They’re bring’n some generators in with that first load. Where we need them first? The sheriff for sure. Dr Earl. How about one here for computers, phones, stuff like that?
Hot beanie Weanie’s? You know I’m ready! Shoot! I could eat the south end of a north bound horse right now! Thank you Lord for this food. Check that, for this hot food! Amen!
What's on my mind 
Leave a comment