Post-Helene Update 3

October 3, 2024

I took some much-needed self care time today while June (miraculously!) attended a day of ZigZag, the Agile Learning Community she had been part of prior to this school year. They were not much damaged by the storm and had a port-a-potty already set up there. I was a little wary about sending her out, just because the overall atmosphere in Asheville still seems very much in emergency mode, with audible sirens, and many traffic light still not functioning, but I think June really needed a break from this daily-life-survival way of being, a chance to play and explore with other kids, especially now that some of her key neighborhood playmates are away. I found out the other day that a neighbor has an outdoor shower space and bucket setup, and they graciously offered to let me use it. It was glorious to feel the warm water on my body! Luckily the temperatures have been comfortable during this whole ordeal, and today was quite warm and sunny, so it was perfect for outdoor washing. If the water outage situation continues into November and December, that setup would be a lot less comfortable.

October 4, 2024

Just after June and I moved to this neighborhood in West Asheville, COVID hit. We felt very lucky to be here at that time, with friendly, supportive folks to talk to on our daily walks, and, despite the fact that some have now left, I feel thankful to be here during this disaster as well. It feels like people are really looking out for one another.

While I’ve been a public radio listener through the years, I know that many have abandoned the medium. During this tragedy, folks have turned back to it as the only way to get news, many going into their cars to be able to access it. For those snatches of reception that we can get, either at hotspots or out and about, social media, specifically Facebook, has been key in allowing people to share, communicate, and connect. It has regained some if its lost meaning and usefulness during this disaster.

This morning I went to volunteer with the cleanup effort in the River Arts District. It was centered around a large building of artists’ studios that had been built in 1904 and that had been completely flooded. Artists have been told to remove all of their things from their studios so that inspectors can assess and see what can be done about restoring the building (if it is salvageable). I signed a waiver, donned an N-95 mask, work gloves and a hard hat, and went to see what I could help salvage from inside the building. Unfortunately, I soon saw that without high rubber boots, I was not going to be of much use on the lower level — there was that much mud there. So, I climbed some metal stairs to the second floor, where I found artist Mira Gerard, daughter of the acclaimed painter Jonas Gerard, trying to evacuate artworks and art supplies to a waiting U-Haul outside. After helping bring jugs of paint, paintings, and easels downstairs, I went to help another artist, who was taking books and paintings, completely covered in mud, out of her studio and piling them on a raised bumpy area in the parking lot. “Careful, the mud is toxic,” I was told, as I donned some nitrile gloves. Why? I asked. Apparently they are considering the entire cleanup of river-touched debris toxic just because of the harmful materials that flowed down the river during the flood. After hearing that, though, I was more concerned than I would otherwise have been when mud splashed on my clothing and arms during the carrying process.

One thing I’ve been concerned about, besides the discomfort of not being able to turn on the tap to wash hands and dishes, or take a shower, is the heating situation at the house. We have old hot water radiators run on a boiler, and would normally be turning the system on soon as the weather gets colder. It seems that we will not have water restored for at least a couple of weeks, probably more likely a couple of months at this point (hopefully that is worst case scenario). My heating system normally takes in water when it gets low, and I don’t want to damage it by running it without proper water supply. Luckily there is a sight glass to see the level, but I’m guessing we will be chilly soon, not wanting to run the heating system more than absolutely necessary.