Hurricane Florence and our MC community
Hurricane Florence has affected students and faculty alike at Maryville College. A few interviews provide insight into how lives are changed even for people who are safe from the flood waters. The Hurricane, that originated in Cabo Verde, recently hit both North and South Carolina. When it made landfall, Hurricane Florence was registered as a category 1 hurricane.
According to Coastal Living, “a category 1 hurricane displays a wind range from 74 to 95 mph that produces minor damage. As the storm moved through the Atlantic Ocean, the speed of the storm began to increase along with the size. This is what allowed the 130-156 mph hurricane to travel 6,069 km from Cabo Verde to the United States Senior student, Claudia Brito Pires hometown resides in Cabo Verde where Hurricane Florence began. .
“The hurricane brought rainfall to the country, which is seen as a positive. It provides water for a flourished harvest,” said Brito Pires. The country had been experiencing a recent drought which has caused to dams to dry up, cattle to die, and a lot of family financial instability. Her family did not have to evacuate because the threat was not large enough to cause panic.
“The people of the country believe that the hurricanes are the soul of angry mothers that lost their child to slavery so that’s why the hurricanes started where was once the slave market in Cabo Verde and affect the countries that the children were sold in The Americas,” explained Brito Pires.
Freshman student, Mary Clement, is from Charleston, South Carolina, an area heavily affected by the hurricane. She explained that that the city was put under a mandatory evacuation. This means that it is highly recommended to leave the area as law enforcement may not be able to assist in later rescues. Charleston was not hit by the hurricane as hard a she expected; with minor issues like flooded roads, and branches were swept into yards.
Another student, junior, Maren Daniel is from Tryon, North Carolina, said her family experienced a lot of rain due to their location high in the mountains. Although she and her family were safe from Hurricane Florence, her best friend that lives in Wilmington, North Carolina was affected by Florence..
“He was evacuated and has been out of school now for over a week. There is still no telling when they their lives will get back to normal,” Said Daniel. Another from the Charlotte area, MC student Amy Turpin’s family dealt with heavy rainfall as well.
“A friend’s family lake house was completely destroyed and had to be gutted and a cousin that attend University of North Carolina Wilmington was evacuated from school,” said Turpin.
“People who are interested in helping with relief for these displaced persons and their families to seek out agencies that not only provide material support, but those organizations that help folks with medical, financial, and community.” Maryville College professor. Dr. Weedman gives advice for those who want to help with he tragedy.
Dr. Michelle Weedman, an Adjust Professor of New Testament, has family in the Piedmont area of North Carolina who were not asked to evacuate the area. Her family’s farm suffered damaged crops and flooding.