Why Would You Want This?

DISCLAIMER:  I'm writing this from the comfort of a home-away-from-home.  After convincing from family and my landlord, I made the decision late Thursday / early Friday that my son and I need to leave Whiteville.  I have been fortunate enough to have been fed and watered, have had air conditioning and a comfortable bed while the storm raged wind, blinding rain, and tornadoes over the city and county I call home.

I write this with the full realization that a great many people have not enjoyed such luxuries.  Including people I know and love... people who had National Guard troops show up at their door telling them, "you're leaving now."  

I will try to be as sensitive as I can with my words.  And with most things I attempt in life, I will likely fail.  If your feelings get hurt, that's your problem.  End disclaimer.

A meteorologist friend of mine in Virginia stated before the storm struck that they had individuals on their Facebook friends list upset that the storm wasn't hitting there.

Let me repeat that... they were upset... that the storm... was NOT... going to strike their location.

I've been furious and kind of stewing over it since my friend stated this.  

Why on Earth would ANYONE ...WANT... this kind of storm to hit?  What kind of sick individual would wish what has happened in [[Whiteville, Lumberton, Riegelwood, Lake Waccamaw, Tabor City, Nakina, Leland, Wilmington, Loris, Longs, et al]] to hit... ANY location?

I know meteorologists and storm enthusiasts... and other general idiots... who look forward to the wild weather hitting, so they can chase the storm, or maybe ride around taking pictures, getting lots of shares, getting their name in print, making it look like they're some kind of special.  They have nothing at stake, so it's "fun" to them.  They don't have a home in the direct path, or loved ones in the direct path.  So they don't care.  They're only doing it for themselves, their goal is not to "inform" or to help people.  Their motivation is purely self-interest and name recognition. 

A certain famous "extreme meteorologist" comes to mind, and a certain famous meteorologist from a national weather-related broadcast network comes to mind.

Those mentioned above are different from meteorologists who look at these once-in-a-generation storms as tests of their forecasting skills, wall-to-wall, non-stop work.  THOSE are meteorologists who ARE trying to help protect people, who are trying to inform the public, working to help keep people informed and safe.  Whether or not the public follows their recommendations is another story altogether.  They don't look forward to the destruction and devastation caused by a potentially cat-4 storm striking.

There are members of the public who assume the meteorologists are "over-hyping" the storm... stating that we're somehow making it sexier than it would be... that what was then a category-FOUR storm with 140 mph winds... somehow it just "won't be THAT bad."  

The storm weakened to a 2, and then a 1.  So from a wind standpoint, SE NC and NE SC dodged a huge bullet.  Got very, very lucky.  (By the way... "category" ONLY has to do with the wind.  Not the volume of rain coming, or the forward speed of the storm.  A hurricane's category rating is exclusively based on wind speed.  As we have seen, a 2 or a 1 can bring about just as much devastation as a 5.)

Meteorologists didn't get it wrong.  Florence was every bit the badass as she was advertised.  The winds came and went, and the rains continued.  And continued.  And continued.  Then they stopped for a bit... and then Florence went out with a bang with tremendous rainfall and tornadoes... just to add insult to injury.

My county is still recovering from Hurricane Matthew two years ago.  Long-promised recovery funds are still sitting in someone's pocket in Raleigh.  Because politicians.  It'll be my pleasure to vote against the good "governor" Cooper at the next election.  

While people wait, Florence came along and left Columbus County lying on the mat, desperately holding on to the bottom ring rope to stop the referee's count. 

Cities and towns were submerged. 

The beautiful Lake Waccamaw showed a devastatingly angry side, rose over her banks, and destroyed nearly everything in her sight. 

Picturesque White Marsh raged over roads, through neighborhoods, and as of this writing STILL blocks major roads east of Whiteville. 

Soules Swamp submerged a large portion of downtown Whiteville.  Small businesses, still recovering from Matthew, have received a brutal body-blow. 

Some will rebuild (again), some may decide to cut their losses, take the insurance money, and run.  I certainly wouldn't blame them. 

The eastern half of the county still remains largely isolated from society. 

The National Guard, fire departments, first responders, and many others selflessly worked to rescue innocent people from the rising flood waters... from their own homes. 

Imagine yourself sitting in your living room with waters rising all around you... desperately hoping and praying those National Guard troops get to you before you drown?  .....in places where it never floods?!

Tell me again WHY you would WANT this to happen in your area?  

The power has been out for many days... in 90-degree heat... with humidity... with nighttime temps in the mid 70s.  

Tell me again WHY you would WANT this to happen in your area?

Farmlands ruined by nearly 30 inches of rain.  Crops lost.  Thousands and thousands of dollars and an entire summer's work lost.  Sure, that's what insurance is for, but still....

Tell me again WHY you would WANT this to happen in your area?

People in one of the emergency shelters had to be re-evacuated and taken to another place... and were told to leave the stuff they had at the shelter behind.  They had to be emergently re-evacuated because the shelter was damaged and water was rushing in.

Tell me again WHY you would WANT this to happen in your area?

Trees down, power lines down... countless trees and power lines.  Old trees that have been around for decades... down and killed.  Absolute destruction everywhere.  Roads impassable.  Roads washed away, destroyed, and it will be many weeks before they're open again.

Tell me again WHY you would WANT this to happen in your area?

Homes ruined.  COUNTLESS homes ruined by the flood waters.  That's not something you can just shop-vac up and call it done.  Water ruins the sheet rock, the studs, the carpeting, the flooring.  Mold develops.  All of that has to be torn out and rebuilt.  Yeah, for the most part, FEMA or insurance will cover the repairs, but.....

Tell me again WHY you would WANT this to happen in your area?

All of your belongings destroyed by the flood waters.  Those photo albums that got submerged in feet of sewage- and insect-infested water.  Irreplaceable family heirlooms destroyed.  Things you've had for generations, passed down from long-deceased family members.   Will FEMA money or insurance replace those?

Tell me again WHY you would WANT this to happen in your area?

Rivers cresting higher than they have ever crested in recorded history.  The water rolling downstream... devastating areas with a new wave of flooding a couple days after the storm is gone.  

Tell me again WHY you would WANT this to happen in your area?

Where's that "extreme meteorologist" now?  Oh, last I heard he is still in Wilmington because there aren't any roads open in or out of the city.  Good for him.  Maybe he can do something to help homeowners pick up the pieces.  (But I'm sure his fame gets him free services wherever he wants to go.)  

Where's that famous guy from that national TV network?  Oh, the storm's over, and so is his work.  He got to flex his biceps on TV, make himself look great, pretend to care..... but now that the REAL battle begins, seeeee ya.  

Gas is in short supply in some areas, while other areas are able to get back on their feet a little more quickly.  Food and life necessities are critically low in some areas.  People who are normally "spoiled" in life now have to enjoy MREs, sleep on cots, or a floor.  People are still in the dark, they're hot, smelly, and exceedingly short on patience.  

Please... PLEASE tell me... WHY you would WANT this to happen... not only in your area... but in ANY area?  

The images below are courtesy The News Reporter and various contributors, and other sources such as Facebook. 

Tell me, again, why you are such a despicable individual that you'd WANT this to happen. 

Go ahead.  Click on them and enlarge.  Take a good look. 

FINAL COMMENT---

If you ARE someone who would want this to happen, and are somehow connected to me on social media, unfriend me, block me, whatever it takes.  I want nothing to do with you.