Nature's Fury

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Nature's Fury
by Dave Gibson, Columnist

September 25, 2003

Dave Gibson As I write this in the newly discovered comfort of my home, I am reminded of how thankful I should be, though saddened by the destruction it often takes to sometimes remind me of what I really have. As many of you know, I live in the Hampton Roads section of Virginia, which was one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Isabel. My account of this disaster is brief (at least by my standards) but I believe poignant, and the lessons I have learned about myself and human nature...are ones which I shall take to my grave.

As last Thursday began and the winds of Isabel grew more furious, my mood became much more somber and my concern for the safety of my family became a reality. Only the night before, I was excited about having a day off and even ventured down to the oceanfront to watch the crashing waves. While others were shopping for batteries and stocking up on canned food...I was buying new golf equipment. You see, we here in Hampton Roads have been warned so many times about "The Big One" hitting us and somehow we have always managed to escape nature's most dread fury. I like so many others, had become complacent and unfortunately underestimated Mother Nature.

As the power failed, I was not worried and I had seen it rain much harder many times and felt more annoyance than anything else. However, when limb after limb began to fall and as I watched 100 year old trees snap as though they were kindling...I was overtaken by both fear and a sense of awe. I then told my wife in no uncertain terms: "We are getting the hell out of here!" It is amazing how little you need when you believe that there is a good chance all of your worldly possessions, as treasured as they may be... are about to be destroyed. We grabbed our wedding rings, a few pictures, and our two dogs (Both of whom are fully vested members of the family!) and headed off to my parents' house (which is constructed totally of brick and only surrounded by small ornamental trees). We all rode out the storm together, which was a move I should have decided to make much sooner.

During that harrowing, agonizing drive to safer quarters, I realized that by not taking heed and consequently facing that ferocious storm ill-prepared...I had put that which is most precious to me in serious danger. It is a mistake which I shall never make again.

During the storm's aftermath, I have seen man at his best and his worst. The day after Isabel, we came back to find the backyard looking as if a fierce tank battle had taken place. Without asking, my neighbor Kevin climbed over what was left of our fence (chainsaw in hand) and said "Let's get started". As we worked that day in the tropical heat, I saw neighbors helping one another, many of whom had never before met. I will never forget the kindness that was shown to me from people I barely know.

On the other side of the spectrum, there are the gas station owners who began to charge a full one-fourth more per-gallon, the day after the storm (And trust me...I made a list!). There is also the story of a man who entered a large chain store two days after the storm, waited for a new shipment of batteries to arrive, bought every one of them off the shelves, and set up shop in the parking lot, charging people three times what they were worth! That scoundrel was promptly arrested, his profits seized, and the remaining batteries returned to the store. Sometimes justice is swift!

I will not bore you with all the petty details of how uncomfortable four days without power have been. Many here are still without power, many without a home, and a few have even lost their lives. This being the first day I have seen news coverage of the storm's devastation...I consider my experience with Isabel, to be little more than an inconvenience. However, I must say thank you to Isabel, for that dreadful lady reminded me once again of what is truly to be treasured...The ones you love. ***

EDITOR'S NOTE: For the information of our readers, Dave lives in the area of Virginia that was struck by Hurricane Isabel last week. Editor Tim Rollins spoke with him early this morning and he is all right, as is his family.

Photo of Dave Gibson courtesy of staff files