Lately I have been glued to the television (which I am sure my wife would say is nothing new) watching the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Over six million people were without power in the upperhalf of the Eastern Seaboard. I am so used to worrying about the Florida Keys, and all of my friends, that I was actually relieved to hear Irene was not heading their way. After seeing the damage, Irene is going to break many records before she is finished. What a storm.
They are rating Irene as a Class 1 hurricane but she will do more damage than most of her Class 2 or even Class 3 predecessors. The victims that I have seen interviewed on television look so distraught and confused that I cannot help be reminded of the many natural disasters we have encountered ourselves. Our storms and fires were devastating and sad, but nothing compared to the scale of damage caused by Irene.
If there is one silver lining to any disaster, it is that people are willing to go that extra mile to help each other out. Little things are no longer important. A grounding human instinct takes control and people shine. I never wish for disaster, but I have to admit that people can amaze you with their sense of community when it counts the most. The Weather Channel even claims to become “community” during these times, and it is true. People, deep down, can be good.
The Florida Keys are so used to hurricanes that they are very prepared for what can, and most likely will, happen. The upper East Coast has towns that did not even issue evacuation warnings because they did not know where to send them.
I remember arriving in Key West after Hurricane Wilma, and four months after the fact, you barely started to see some progress. Major businesses were closed for over six months in Key West and the island only covers about 16 square miles. Rebuilding takes time and effort from everyone. The vast damage caused by Irene will take years to fix.
I remember the grueling months of cleanup on the Gunflint Trail after the July 1999 blowdown storm where the work seemed to never end. Many people went without power for weeks and yet everyone seemed to continue on with their lives. Upper Lakes Foods brought up a refrigerator truck to help save food for local restaurants and donated bottled water as well. They are a small, familyowned operation and I think it really showed their true values.
Como Oil & Propane brought up propane grills so that Trail Center could grill burgers, free of charge, for anyone who needed it. Plus many other contributions of labor, food, water, clothing and even counseling were offered to victims on the Gunflint Trail.
I am sure there will be many examples of this unconditional assistance in the weeks to come for all of the troubled people on the Eastern Seaboard and our hearts go out to them.
“What does not kill you only makes you stronger” is an overused cliché that is also very true. Communities become stronger and closer after disasters like this. We saw it on the Trail and I am certain they will see it on the East Coast as well.
Cory Christianson has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing or wildlife reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com or call 218-388-0315. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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