Way Back Home

Chances are if you live in the DC area, you have some family or other personal ties to North Carolina. Personally my mother’s side originates from the Tar Hill state. I remember as a young child going to see my aunts and uncles back off the main highways and down the dirt road to the small house surrounded by chicken coups, pig pens and outhouses. One of my aunts ran an after hours joint and use to sell liquor. They would be in the kitchen around the table drinking and we would be just outside the front door playing and chasing the chickens. At night after we were put to bed, you could hear the muffled sounds of people talking and laughing, smell the cigarettes and hear Sam Cook and Aretha Franklin playing on the old juke box auntie had in the corner. Next to the bed was a pee jar. Coming from the city, me and my brothers wasn’t even going to go out into the dark, in the woods to relieve ourselves. If we had to do number two, it would have to wait until the morning…

This weekend the coast of North Carolina was hit by Hurricane Florence. The slow moving tropical storm has stalled and is bringing historical rains and tidal flooding to our families and friend.  Recent reports say some areas may experience rain fall in three days what would normally take eight month for the same precipitation. The event will impact millions as the storm blocks the escape of water from river tributaries that would normally flow back out to the ocean. Some area’s will get as much as 10 feet of surge. That’s incredible. To put it into perspective, the average measurement from the bottom of your front door to the door knob is three feet. Think of your house being filled with water up to that door knob. Now think of your house being filled to the top of the door. Feel me. The storm is expected to linger for the next 2-4 days. Death has already been reported. The toll at this writing stands at 5. There are about 600,000 people without power. It may take weeks to restore it and remember we are only in day two of the event. Hundreds were left stranded and in need of evacuation in New Bern. There are 33 primary road locations and 30 secondary road locations that are experiencing flooding and over wash. Although Florence has been downgraded to a tropical storm, sustained winds in a tropical storm reach 70 Mph. Next time you on the highway, and want to know what 70 Mph winds feel like, stick your hand out the window when you get to 70 Mph. As the night goes on other cities like Myrtle Beach, Jacksonville and Wilmington will start to feel the storm as it goes on its southerly projection toward South Carolina. Spots inland will not be spared either as flash floods and river overflow will be felt in cities like Raleigh, Rocky Mount and Fayettesville’s N.C. Click here is a list of N.C county emergency numbers. But beware, some counties will not respond right away unless its a life and death situation. Always call 911 first. Well that’s all I have for now. We will update this article as information come in.