Come Hell or High Water

October 9, 2015 70 Comments
A young volunteer takes a break in Columbia, SC (Copyright photo by Sheryl McAlister 2015)

A young volunteer takes a break in Columbia (Copyright photo by Sheryl McAlister 2015)

Come Hell or High Water
By Sheryl McAlister, a writer based in Columbia, SC

If the national news media hasn’t, by now, done justice to the damage caused by this week’s epic flooding in South Carolina, a walk through one of the hardest hit neighborhoods in Columbia will bring you to your knees.

Piles of muddy debris line the main thoroughfare through one particular neighborhood in this capital city. Debris that only several days before had been people’s furniture, their favorite chairs, televisions, tools, clothing. The dining room tables that held fine china and silver. The memorabilia of busy, full lives.

Those fortunate enough to have salvaged a few family photographs were keeping vigil on this sunny day as the priceless and irreplaceable photos were drying on a clean blanket in someone’s front yard.

Brown-bag lunches, water bottles, fruit, chips and hand sanitizer were stacked on tables in the front yard of a home that was spared. The South Carolina National Guard was directing traffic at a nearby intersection. City of Columbia trucks made their way through the crowded neighborhood scooping up the remnants of a life-time of material items. It was eerily quiet. No horns. No laughter. Just the hum of large trucks and commercial equipment. And the occasional question, “What can I do to help?”

The juxtaposition of one storm-ravaged street sitting perpendicular to another which was untouched and manicured — a brand new flower bed awaiting fresh mulch—was difficult to rationalize. The question confounding those of us who bore witness – how in the world was one street missed and another so horribly damaged?

Some of us were incredibly fortunate. My family is scattered around the city and some of them live squarely in the middle of a couple of the hardest hit areas. But we were spared. My sister’s home sits 100 yards from one of the worst-hit streets in town. The water stopped at her driveway. Her house – untouched.

They helped friends in the immediate aftermath, friends who lost everything. Water had risen to their roof line. Now, mud mixed with insulation covers every single piece of furniture. But somehow in the ruins, they found a most cherished possession – their great grandparents’ wedding rings.

The family’s yard is now covered with all their belongings, and their boat sits in someone else’s yard. The insurance adjusters have been called. They wait and wonder what comes next. They were prepared, as were most people in Columbia. The rain was anticipated. The water was expected. We bought our batteries and stocked up on plenty of bottled water (we thought). We had our favorite munchies.

Nothing, I mean, nothing, could have prepared us for what happened. The power and violence of out-of-control flood waters left victims in its wake and showed no mercy.

My mind couldn’t help but wander to the folks in New Orleans in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina came in with a vengeance and took whatever it wanted in its path, leaving death and destruction in a city that never had a chance.

It’s not difficult to wager a guess at why things have been different here: South Carolina had leadership at every level, from every conceivable sector. The Governor and mayors took swift, decisive action. The television anchors and reporters who – without fanfare – provided real-time accurate information that helped inform people how to make life-saving decisions. The communities who rallied around their own. The schools that were used as shelters; the city buses that were used to transport those who couldn’t transport themselves. The churches, the military, the National Guard. Engineers who literally saved several communities in the nick of time – by holding back dams that had breached.

The electric company which had crews out before the rains stopped to restore power as quickly as possible. The non-profit community that responded to needs for food, water, clothing and shelter. The local food establishments that fed the hungry and gave away bottled water by the truckloads. The fire fighters and law enforcement officials.

USA Today reported that 11 trillion gallons of water fell in the area in a very short period of time. Another report said it was “…enough water to end the drought in California.” Jon boats, as ubiquitous in the South as fried chicken, rolled off the backs of boat trailers almost immediately in the early morning hours of October 4th and raced from house to house rescuing people as the rivers rose where the streets had once been. Those early extraordinary efforts by ordinary people saved a lot of lives.

The sun came out on the fourth day and even the local weatherman couldn’t control his emotions. The sunshine was the permission we needed to get to work. And the southern hospitality continued with a vengeance. For those unfamiliar with it, southern hospitality isn’t just a charming phrase or an overused cliché. It’s a real thing. And when the times are the toughest, it’s hard core. It’s the roll-up-your-sleeves, help your neighbors as long as they need it, feed ‘em when they’re hungry kind of hospitality.

Now, if you’re not from around these parts, that might sound an awful lot like guts and hard work. And that would be correct. It’s the soul of southern people that stiffens their resolve, pushes them forward and won’t let them quit. And, yet again, in the darkest of days, the soul of this place had been tested.

Those of us who managed to escape with little more than a loss of power and water found new things to be thankful for every day as we ventured out to assess the damage and see if we could help. And we learned quickly not to underestimate the power of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Copyright photos by Sheryl McAlister 2015

Christy’s PB&J story inspired many of us to dig deep and figure out what our small contributions could be. You see, Christy’s husband is a firefighter. And as firefighters are wont to do when the work is the most difficult, he had worked a double and then volunteered for another shift. He hadn’t eaten all day. Fortunately, earlier that day somebody decided it would be a good idea to make the first responders some food, and they dropped off a bag of Peter Pan Peanut Butter &Jelly sandwiches. And Christy’s husband had enough time to grab one.

Just some random person who decided that could be his or her contribution – to feed a few fire fighters. Christy wrote about the kindness of that stranger on Facebook, what it had meant to her husband and the notion that there is no insignificant contribution when so many are hurting.

There was the couple and their 10-year-old son who spent most of Monday helping friends clean out their mud-soaked home, trying to salvage as many clothes as possible. They filled a truck bed and headed to the laundromat where they washed and folded 20 loads. There was the restaurant that stayed open 15 minutes after it had closed to make that couple hamburgers to go.

There was the young man who, before bottled water became plentiful, bought as much as he could afford and drove around town handing it out to people who looked like they could use a break.

These people may never know who they helped or who helped them. And that’s hardly the point. Time after time, folks asked for help. And help arrived in many forms. Volunteers were out in force helping clean up the yards of total strangers. Among the soggy, discarded items on the lawn of one home were books and Cheerios and computers and discs with carefully handwritten titles like Paul Simon’s Graceland and Liza Minelli Live from Carnegie Hall. I didn’t know this man whose belongings I was tossing into the giant trash bin in his driveway. But I sure liked his music.

The cleanup continues in and around Columbia even as rivers continue to be perilously close to cresting, as roads and bridges are closed, and as dams are still in danger of breaching. We remain steadfast in our mission to return to life as we knew it. Those hardest hit will not be beaten.

It’s not over yet, though, for South Carolina.

This storm is headed south to the coast. The Lowcountry, we call it here. The SC coast has seen its share of hurricanes, so the folks there will be ready. They’ll have to be.

The forecast calls for a 90% chance of rain Saturday.

Copyright 2015 Sheryl McAlister©

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70 Comments

  1. Le Anne Schreiber October 9, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    Great piece, Sheryl. Makes it all perfectly vivid, the damage and the kindness.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 13, 2015 at 6:54 pm

      thanks so much, le anne. i so appreciate the kind words.

      Like

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  2. Marsi October 9, 2015 at 2:49 pm

    Amazing stories…..It warms my heart to see the young children helping others. The acts of kindness are overwhelming! I am glad I live in Columbia!!

    xo

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. Anne Langley October 9, 2015 at 4:07 pm

    So glad you and the rest of the family are safe and well! Love to all!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. Beppie October 9, 2015 at 5:26 pm

    When there are no words, you find them. A moving piece.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 9, 2015 at 5:34 pm

      thank you, my friend. hope you all are safe.

      Like

      Reply

  5. Carole Crolley October 9, 2015 at 6:38 pm

    From the safety of my little haven in Little River, I watched the news and the pictures of Columbia in harms way and could only cry. Your stories tell the story I saw on the national news — stories of people helping people, stories of love. I am so proud of Columbia. Thank you, Sherri.
    Aunt Carole

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 13, 2015 at 6:53 pm

      i thought i replied to your note but i don’t see it here!! thanks so much for being such a good follower!! hope you stayed safe

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  6. Sheryl McAlister October 9, 2015 at 6:42 pm

    thank you Carole. stay safe this weekend. it’s headed your way.

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    1. Mary Sutton October 11, 2015 at 8:27 pm

      HI – Your article was great. I do wish you had mentioned all the help from organizations outside Columbia and South Carolina in general. The military, firefighters, first responders, and colleges from out of state helped immensely.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Sheryl McAlister October 13, 2015 at 6:44 pm

        great point! and thanks for writing.

        Like

  7. Josie October 9, 2015 at 7:24 pm

    Thinking of all of you. Josie

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. abe hardesty October 9, 2015 at 8:39 pm

    Good writing from a good young writer.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 9, 2015 at 8:54 pm

      OMG!!!! Hello, old friend. Hoping this finds you well.

      Like

      Reply

  9. Kelly Kent October 9, 2015 at 11:16 pm

    Well said, my friend.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. Carole October 10, 2015 at 8:11 am

    Truthful and poignant. I too am so proud of Columbia.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 13, 2015 at 6:52 pm

      thanks for taking time to write!

      Like

      Reply

  11. Donna Morris Watson October 10, 2015 at 9:23 am

    Sheryl, I haven’t seen you in 30 or so years since C2! I enjoyed your piece very much.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 10, 2015 at 9:26 am

      hey there, old friend. thanks and stay safe!

      Like

      Reply

  12. Allison Felix October 10, 2015 at 10:36 am

    Sherrie,
    Great writing, and I’m so glad to hear everyone came through ok. Love you guys.
    Allison Evans Felix

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 10, 2015 at 10:37 am

      thanks, allison. headed your way, so stay safe!

      Like

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  13. Pati Melton Derrick October 10, 2015 at 11:05 am

    Wow! You have a way with words! How aptly you described the soul of this place. Haven’t seen you in years, but hope all is well with you and yours.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 10, 2015 at 11:31 am

      thanks, pati. appreciate the kind words, and hope you and yours are safe and okay.

      Like

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  14. Katherine Frankstone October 10, 2015 at 11:08 am

    Sheryl, What a great piece. I’ve wondered where you landed after high school–I am in Charleston now and saw this piece on FB. Hope you stay dry; I can’t believe it’s raining there again today.

    Katherine (Thomas) Frankstone

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 10, 2015 at 11:30 am

      thanks, Katherine, and hope you all ride this out safely. i was in charlotte for years and then lived on fripp island before coming back to columbia. stay safe.

      Like

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  15. Martha Vaughan October 10, 2015 at 11:25 am

    This makes me proud to be a South Carolinian. We in the upstate were not hit hard but I’ve seen many step up to the plate to help our neighbor. $750,000+ raised on WYFF telethon with others responding in other ways. We may be hit hard but we get up and show the world how to make it through and how to love others through. Thank you for your writing. Great! #weareSCstrong

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 10, 2015 at 11:32 am

      thanks, Martha! great work by you guys and WYFF. the news media has rocked it!

      Like

      Reply

  16. Susan Griffin October 10, 2015 at 12:26 pm

    Beautiful, heartfelt words. SC will always be my home, why would I live anywhere else?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Billie October 10, 2015 at 12:57 pm

    Leadership matters…
    Thanks for your written pictorial. After a year of being pictured, at times, as racist for holding onto remnants of our Southern history…and other times as illiterate and “not quite smart,” as always, I’m proud to be a fellow Southerner. Your stories of neighbors and strangers stepping up to help folks in South Carolina do not surprise me. That’s what Southerners do…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. Melissa Hawkins October 10, 2015 at 1:14 pm

    Beautifully said…not to mention a young widow volunteering just days after her husband’s funeral and the hundreds of hardworking volunteers showing up at houses where they didn’t even know the families. South Carolina can be proud.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 10, 2015 at 1:23 pm

      Thank you, Melissa. I’m assuming you’re referencing the family of slain police officer Greg Alia…. God bless them.

      Like

      Reply

  19. Robin Stephens Teagle October 10, 2015 at 2:26 pm

    I am so proud to call SC my home. I have live here my whole 52 years of my life and I was born in one of those little white shacks on Fort Jackson before the hospital was built. I would not live any where else in the world than here! God Bless everyone effected by the floods. SC Strong!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 13, 2015 at 6:49 pm

      hope your home was safe from the floods. thanks for reading and commenting, robin!

      Like

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  20. Jane carter eason October 10, 2015 at 5:21 pm

    A blast from the Hammond days past… Great article so moving. As a former Columbia resident of 40 years I saw my home vanish in the flood- “viewed” from pictures and articles. All of this helps people who aren’t there see the devastation. I happen to b out of the country at the moment. So proud to call you a former student…yes I started teaching at 12.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 10, 2015 at 5:36 pm

      OMG Ms. Carter!! Yes, you were 12. Thanks for writing and safe travels.

      Like

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  21. Debbie Edwards October 10, 2015 at 5:52 pm

    Wow! What a great article about the struggles in our wonderful city and the blessing of having such wonderful neighbors. SC is STRONG! Very eloquent writing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  22. Jan October 10, 2015 at 5:59 pm

    Somehow all the pictures do not quite capture the enormity. Your words brought to life the sadness and devastation but, more importantly, the goodness and kindness, the generosity and caring, the oneness of humankind.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 13, 2015 at 6:48 pm

      thank you so much, jan, for your kind words!

      Like

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  23. Nancy Taylor October 10, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    Very moving piece; thank you for putting into words so beautifully.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 13, 2015 at 6:48 pm

      thank you for writing, nancy!

      Like

      Reply

  25. DOUGLAS EDGEWORTH October 10, 2015 at 7:30 pm

    VERY WELL SAID AND WRITTEN..

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  26. Donna Jenkins October 10, 2015 at 8:17 pm

    Beautiful and heartwarming story. God bless you all and keep you safe.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  27. Carolyn Rouse October 10, 2015 at 8:28 pm

    Great Story! Thanks

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 13, 2015 at 6:45 pm

      you are so welcome, and thank you for commenting!!

      Like

      Reply

  28. anticsbyannie October 10, 2015 at 8:45 pm

    Beautifully written. Captures the essence of my fellow South Carolinians. Always with as much grace as the moss on live oak trees.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 13, 2015 at 6:45 pm

      thanks so much for commenting!!

      Like

      Reply

  29. Jay Floyd October 11, 2015 at 3:51 pm

    I saw a picture of 301 washed away between Turbeville and Manning. I used to fish those rivers as a boy with my Dad having grown up in Turbeville. I can’t go sit and fish anymore there and remember him. A that’s left now is memories, but we’re a hearty bunch. Just reminds me that our treasure isn’t here on this earth. Great article!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 13, 2015 at 6:44 pm

      thanks so much for your wonderful words!!

      Like

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  30. Lois McAfee October 12, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    Sheryl, as sad as this situation is for all involved, your article was a wonderful read. You have got a real talent!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  31. nomadwomanpaula October 12, 2015 at 6:17 pm

    Sheryl, a fine article that really captures this dreadful event but also the kindness of Columbia’s resident toward their neighbors. Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Sheryl McAlister October 12, 2015 at 6:20 pm

      Is that you, Dr. Shirley?!?

      Like

      Reply

  32. mizgrits October 13, 2015 at 2:17 pm

    Well-written. Capturing the emotion and determination of the Southern spirit is a worthy pursuit. Keep up the good work!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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