Greenville Shaken Up by Unusual Storm
Greenville woke up to quite the surprise today after weathering a doozy of a storm last night. For those wondering, the term “doozy” refers to something out of the ordinary, especially when it comes to unfortunate events. And oh boy, was this storm out of the ordinary!
As the storm began to roll in around 8 p.m., the first signs were subtle—a gentle pitter-patter on the window, a low rumble of thunder, and then—boom! A flash of lightning lit up the sky. I remembered what my grandpa taught me about counting the seconds between the lightning and thunder to gauge the storm’s distance. “One, two,” I started, but before I even got to two, the storm unleashed its fury. The winds howled like a freight train; the light rain changed to a torrential downpour that came sideways. It felt like the very air around us was chaotic!
As the storm escalated, I watched as the lights flickered and then, just like that, the power went out. The house was engulfed in darkness, only the sounds of nature’s roar filled the silence. When morning came, I hopped into my car, ready to face the day. It wasn’t long before I noticed a fallen tree blocking my usual route. As I drove, I saw more trees downed along the way to the Triune Mercy Center. It became clear that this storm had impacted many in our community, and reports flooded in about widespread power outages throughout the county.
Connecting with the Community
Arriving at the Triune Mercy Center, I was greeted by familiar faces—two friends who are part of our unhoused community stood chatting at one of the tables. I couldn’t help but ask them how they fared during the storm. Asking such questions may have seemed odd to me a while back, but as I got to know their stories, each one became a piece of the larger puzzle.
“Wow,” said one of my friends, his eyes wide with urgency, “I made it as far underneath the canopy at the Spinx gas station as I could. The wind, the rain, the thunder, and lightning … it felt like a hurricane! The rain was swirling everywhere, and I was genuinely scared.”
His companion nodded in agreement. “I was sleeping on a porch when the rain started coming sideways and drenched my clothes. It’s hard to get any sleep when you’re soaked to the bone. It was tough.” He paused before adding, “I was scared.”
A Storm and Its Aftermath
Listening to them made me reflect on the challenges of being unhoused, especially in the face of something so severe. If I had been in their shoes during last night’s storm, I would have been terrified as well. Thankfully, shelters were on high alert and transitioned to emergency mode, so my friends had a warm, dry place to take shelter from the elements. I couldn’t help but feel grateful that they had the chance to weather the storm indoors.
As we chatted, I couldn’t shake the thought of all those who face the unpredictable nature of life without a home, particularly during extreme weather events. I urge us all to take a moment to pray for those who find themselves on the streets. Let’s strive to understand life through their eyes and feel their struggles in our hearts. And when the time comes, let’s use our voices on voting day to choose leaders who advocate for critical issues like affordable housing, living wages, and mental health care.
Conclusion
While last night’s storm was indeed a doozy, it served as a reminder of the importance of community, resilience, and compassion. We may never know the full extent of what our neighbors endure, but extending our grace and understanding can make all the difference in the world.
