Sometimes our greatest blessings are revealed in our darkest times.
Our community, and so many more like ours throughout the Southeast, has certainly seen some dark times over this last week.
Hurricane Helene brought devastation to Emanuel County. It is going to take many more weeks before things get back to “normal.” For some places and people, things will be forever changed.
It will take a lot of our time and energy as we continue the work that must be done. Let us all take a moment to be thankful for the gift of that time and energy to figure all of this out. Let us also think about what has happened in the few days since this storm ripped through our community.
The outpouring of support and help has come from our family, friends, neighbors and even some strangers. Those strangers have come to us from Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida and elsewhere to help us restore power. Trucks have rolled in from all over the state and Southeast delivering water and other supplies that we so desperately need. Our fellow citizens have been there for each other, and we’ve rallied to start moving forward again. After all, we’re a tough bunch around here.
While we are counting our blessings, we also have to thank our local agencies who continue to serve us through this unimaginable storm: Emanuel County 911 Dispatch and Emergency Services, Emanuel County EMS, Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department and Rescue, Swainsboro Police Department, Emanuel County Board of Commissioners, Mayor’s Office and City Officials, Emanuel Medical Center, Pineland Telephone Co-Op, Georgia Power, Altamaha Electric, Excelsior Electric, Jefferson Electric, Nolin ROCC and the many power companies who supply our county. We also want to thank all of the lineman who are working tirelessly to get us back up and running.
Even now, the list of people and agencies we need to thank continues to grow, and we will do so as soon as we can. Be sure to thank the helpers and leaders around you. It’s with their help, and the support of each other, that we are going to come out on the other side a stronger community.