resting after trip

[Beap52 1,481]

We just returned from Burnsville, North Carolina after spending a week working on buildings damaged by the hurricane last fall.  We had four adults and 5 college students that volunteered their spring break to help in any way we could in order folks regain normality to their lives. It was a good 13~14 hour road trip from southwest Missouri to Burnsville.  The damage that  the flood waters did to property was absolutely awful.  Vehicles washed away looked like crumbled painted aluminum foil.  The only way to identify them as vehicles were because of the attached wheels.  Even the tires were torn away (the picture below doesn't do justice to the condition of some vehicles).  Land slides caused a lot of the destruction.  One fellow told us that what was once considered the flood plain was replaced by a new flood plain due to the debris and silt in the rivers from land slides. 

 

The nine of us did jobs like rehanging 9 interior doors (of which the person who removed them didn't label them or the trim we reinstalled); clean a hoarders basement after it had been flooded; removed hot water heating radiators (full of dust of which I have come down with a cough and likely a trip to doctor tomorrow); insulated an attic with roll fiberglass  insulation;  removed insulation from floor joists in a muddy crawl space; and some other piddly jobs.  We installed the handrail on the deck pictured below. The owner, a nice fellow, but one who the community watches over, insisted on the round balusters that he "paid five hundred dollars for and if I we could not make them work, then push the whole house down." 

 

The five college students worked really hard and attacked each job with the enthusiasm of their youth.  I used available lumber to build scaffolding in order to install the handrail.  Once the students figured out the "sketchy scaffolding" would hold them, they were on board with getting the job completed. 

 

As we were out and about in the community, gas stations seemed like the easiest place to start up conversations, we were thanked by several locals who appreciated our help.  I reminded them that some day we Missourians will need their help and they agreed that when that happens they would be there.  On our way home, we passed through an area in southeast Missouri that had been struck by the tornadoes this past week.  Folks going through debris looking for belongings while others on roofs with tarps.  There may be a few fellow Americans heading our way quicker that expected.

[kpinnc 14,714]

5 hours ago, Beap52 said:

We just returned from Burnsville, North Carolina after spending a week working on buildings damaged by the hurricane last fall. 

 

As a fellow North Carolinian, I thank you for coming so far to help! 

[953 nut 60,355]

Thank you and the students who came to help. I was spared the agony of the flooding and storm damage so many of our fellow North Carolinians were not as fortunate. God bless all the volunteers who are able to help, you are wonderful.

[rmaynard 16,372]

Thank you to you and your crew of volunteers.