October 6, 2024
This is day 10 for us without power. Many others in surrounding neighborhoods have had theirs restored, but our clump of 295 Duke Energy customers has proven harder to get reconnected. I feel like we have adapted fairly well to what would have been unthinkable a couple of weeks ago. Depending on an outdoor propane 1-burner cook stove, our headlamps, an oil lamp, and a solar light, and charging via the handful of generators and sharing neighbors around our circle. The water situation, which unfortunately is the one that is expected to be longer term, is harder. Jacob brought up large, heavy plastic containers of Greenville tap water when he came, so that makes our situation much easier than that of others. Still, it’s a pain, and limiting for the normal functioning and hygiene activities of daily life. The other day I ordered a showerhead setup and an immersion water heating stick, both of which to work with a 5-gallon bucket. I’m not sure that Amazon will actually deliver them on Wednesday as they say, but hopefully they will get here sometime in the near future and that will make washing our bodies and hair a lot easier and more pleasant, especially as the colder weather sets in.
More people are seeing the benefits of DIY composting toilets, now that flushing is difficult. A few of my contacts I see are going around teaching people how to poop in a bucket, while keeping it sanitary and decent smelling.
Yesterday we went downtown, and despite the concentration of relief efforts there, such as the free potable water in Pack Square, the generous handful of restaurants offering free meals, and the World Central Kitchen headquarters there as well, it seemed eerily deserted. This gave me the sense that such relief efforts would be more effective if offered in the outlying communities that were hardest hit. We did also go and try to volunteer with the organization Beloved, but were turned away as they already had enough volunteers.

October 7, 2024
We were disappointed to wake up and there still be no power, as we’d heard rumors that it might go back on at 11:45 last night. I looked over at my computer this morning, and at the remote control for the TV, and these once-familiar and heavily-used objects now look useless, curious, even silly. The oil lamp has been a nice nighttime presence, and I think I may miss its calming glow. I was trying to rank for June what I was most looking forward to being able to use once we do have power restored, and I think it was: 1) refrigerator 2) internet 3) stove 4) computer 5) dehumidifier 6) lights 7) device charging & TV. A neighbor sent around a Peace-Corps-esque graphic on how to best do daily tasks with little water, like the best method to wash dishes with limited water (involving a couple of different basins) and how to wash clothes with limited water in a garbage bag. My Peace-Corps-learned skills have definitely come in handy in this disaster, but even I have felt somewhat taxed with the limited resources. There was the old joke I’d learned years ago that a Peace Corps volunteer sees a partially-filled glass not as half full or half empty, but instead, as a valuable resource, saying, “Hey, I could take a shower in that!” I’m feeling like, no, that is not enough for me! I’d like at least a whole bucket full right now, and make it nice and hot!
Well, I found out about a shower trailer that opened nearby in a bank parking lot, so June and I donned our flip-flops and packed up our shampoo and clean clothes and headed over there. After an hour wait, we were greeted by clean-seeming shower stalls pumping out cool water. It felt wonderful and refreshing, if not a temperature we would normally choose for ourselves. In the same complex, they’d set up mobile laundry facilities, and there was a huge line for that — the folks there when we left likely had to wait all day to get their clothes washed. We are lucky that Jacob took ours to do in Greenville, where there is water and power.
And then, suddenly, this evening around 9pm, the power returned! I celebrated, but also was disturbed from the peace of settling down for the evening with the oil lamp to suddenly need to clean out the moldy refrigerator to take items back from our next door neighbor who had a generator. This is a very big shift for us. Let’s see how power and no water feels in Asheville. That’s basically the situation I had my second year in Togo, except that I had a well in our courtyard where I could haul up water each morning. As long as we figure out the heat situation, I think this will be doable.
October 9, 2024
I spent a couple of hours today pulling meat off of cooked chickens, to be served as part of meals distributed by the Equal Plates Project. Lots of people are volunteering at such initiatives these days, which is nice to see. There are also quite a few restaurants around town offering free meals, and the local board game cafe is offering free entrance (though no food/beverage or bathroom access).
June is lucky to have ZigZag, but most children are home now, if their families have not evacuated. I heard today that Asheville City Schools has decided to dig wells at all of their schools, to be able to reopen on October 28th. June’s school is a charter, so does not follow that schedule, but I imagine it will open around that time as well.
Things feel a lot more normal and manageable now that the power is back on. Having Internet and being able to research things is reassuring, even if the process of looking at screens and finding the information (or being bombarded with other information) can be stressful.
Here are a few of GoFundMes that are relevant to June and my life in Asheville, in case anyone is interested in contributing and helping folks and activities get back on track: Story Parlor, Mountain City Public Montessori, Misfit Improv. The arts and the small businesses in town have been hit hard, which is sad to see.
Other, more general local aid organizations that could use help include Beloved Asheville and MANNA Food Bank.
So relieved you finally got power and a shower truck! Hopefully the water will be back soon. Thinking of you both.
Very happy to know you’ve finally got power! I guess all of Asheville and beyond will be wondering how to make the water systems more resilient, after this. Glad to learn some folks are composting their poop, a very good idea, as long as there is a good place to dump the buckets!
Your thoughts about showering reminded me of my camping solar shower bag, which I brought with me here (not all homes have hot or warm showers). I used it quite a bit before I broke the valve, and for awhile after that using a clothespin. Of course, we have a lot of sun here, and warmer ambient temperatures than you have this time of year in Asheville.
Love and strength,
Cathy
I am glad you got the electricity back. I still remember the feeling of exhaustion from Sandy and the relief when power was back on. I hope you can relax a bit as you experience a little more normalcy. Your Togo experience must’ve been a big help.