Written by: 4/C Joshua Cortez
The day began with a wake-up call at 0630, and we felt well rested after the previous day’s strenuous activities. We had until 0730 to complete our morning routines and requirements. The uniform for the day was the at-sea attire: polo shirt, khakis, brass belt, name tag, cover, and MMA fleece, Eisenhower jackets. Breakfast was a quick meal, allowing us time to prepare our lunches. We loaded into the vans and felt the brisk, cool air as we departed the cabin. The road trip took about 30 minutes to reach our first destination: The Nanostead facility, where Marshall Relief Alliance stores their tools and personal protective equipment.
We were fortunate enough to be introduced to Rachel Bennett, Community Assistance Coordinator of the Marshall Relief Alliance. She gave us an introduction to Marshall High Studio and the town of Marshall, which Hurricane Helene severely impacted. There were foundations and debris along the banks of the French Broad River. We had a short history lesson, where, during the Civil War, there was a massacre of 13 soldiers considered one of the most tragic events in North Carolina. When we toured the town, we were able to see the area in one view that gave us a sense of how severe the damage was. She explained that the river rose to 27 feet from the base, and its location downhill caused windows and doors to be submerged for 30 hours, along with parts of the building’s roofs.
There is significant infrastructure that has not been restored due to a lack of taxpayer income, such as the fire station and town hall. There was a loss of many levels of response and resources. The National Guard and Army removed mud throughout the town and identified areas of mold exposure. Also, with support from the town’s bucket brigade, the Southern Disaster Recovery, and DebrisTech, they were able to help restore locations. They established communication via walkie-talkies and expanded via Starlink. They did have setbacks; they were not allowed to rebuild the post office because they needed 35 parking spots.
The community was heavily influenced by the art that kept their spirits bright and positive. Rachel had many unique ways of describing the devastation and how it is a “Flightless War,” patiently waiting for the government organizations. For example, FEMA has not served them yet. As the day continued, the sun rose above the mountains, and the weather warmed up. We took a pit stop at Walmart to restock the cabin’s inventory. When we got back, we had free time to play pickleball, run, and play basketball. Dinner consisted of pizza and salad, and after we debriefed our day with professors and rates. We concluded our day with card games and watching the Texans vs. Steelers game.
