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Last week I used a naval term that was for the preparation of an impending storm. Coincidentally, there is another naval term that is used for the response to an actual situation. It’s “All Hands on Deck.”

This term was first used in the 19^th century as a serious battle or storm might be approaching a ship, The captain would call for everyone available to come up to the deck and be ready to serve.

Hurricane Helene made landfall around Taylor County, Florida, last Thursday evening. It came ashore at 140 miles per hour. The unpredictability of where landfall would occur surprised, at the beginning, thousands, but ultimately affected millions!

As I had written last week, we in Decatur County were expecting a direct hit as the hurricane’s pathway from the Big Bend would lead through Tallahassee. But, at the last minute, it took a slightly eastward path and, literally, surprised Valdosta and most of the eastern portion of Georgia.

We all remember Hurricane Michael in 2018. Although that was called, at the time, a “generational” storm, we were bracing for another one in Helene. Thankfully it went in another direction, but our gain is many millions of brother’s and sister’s losses. Big losses!

As we met on Sunday morning and acknowledged our blessings, just about everyone had some family member or friend in one of those areas that were suffering.

As different from Michael, Helene was a huge storm. I don’t diminish the damage of Michael; for those affected it was personal and powerful. In fact, I would imagine there are some roofs and situations that have not recovered, even after six years. But there were dramatic differences between the storms. I’ve already mentioned the geographical coverage of the storm.

Helene’s path came up through Florida with huge surges that affected the coastline of that state from the southern tip of the peninsula all the way up to the northern part of the state. Then it crossed the state line of Georgia and destroyed much of the eastern part of our state from Valdosta to Augusta. Even Atlanta received eleven inches of rain in a 48 hour period, the most since records have been kept.

In addition to the huge size and the death toll of Helene has been the flooding that has occurred. She seemed to choose western North Carolina to do the most damage, although other affected areas might disagree.

One who didn’t disagree with that assessment was Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Florida has as much experience with hurricanes as, perhaps, any state in the Union. Helene’s wrath for Florida was in the churning of the Gulf of Mexico and the record coastline surges that occurred. There were nine drownings just in the Tampa area.

Yet, Gov. DeSantis recognized that North Carolina had incurred the brunt of Helene and issued a statement that said, as I paraphrase, “Uncle Sam take care of those North Carolinians. Florida will be okay.” I was impressed with the magnanimous nature of his statement. Not often does a governor of a state unselfishly say, “We’re okay. Others are in greater need.”

Asheville, Valdosta, Augusta, and many other areas are in great need today. The efforts of the federal government will not be enough. I’m reminded, again, as I have been many times, of the Charles Weller typing exercise and phrase. He is the one who created the sentence, “Now is the time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of their country.”

   I have no doubt that our nation’s citizenry will be unselfish as they seek to help those in need. Just as we received help six years ago, it’s another “All Hands on Deck” moment.