Hurricane Irene struck the East Coast last weekend, leaving a long trail of destruction including at least 43 deaths and nearly $7 billion in damage.
Days after the storm, it was estimated that almost 3 million people were still without power. Flooding remained a problem in many areas, while others have begun to clean up downed trees and other debris.
Families of several Lipscomb students felt the force of Hurricane Irene.
Ryan Whitley, a junior in business management from Rockland County, N.Y., said his family had some flood damage and was without power on and off for a few days.
He said his relatives in New Jersey had a flood in their basement. “The whole thing was basically under water.”
Whitley, whose family lives near the Hudson River, said he was relieved that the storm wasn’t worse. “I’m glad my family is safe,” he said.
Other families in Whitley’s home area were not so blessed. One young boy was playing in some floodwater when a power line fell in the water, Whitley said. An adult attempted to save the boy but was killed by the high voltage. The child is still in critical condition.
Whitley said he thought the storm “caught people off guard,” explaining that normally when hurricanes hit the Eastern Seaboard, his area only gets a little rain.
Winter storms are usually what people in Whitley’s town prepare for, he said. “The worst we get is usually a blizzard, and we’re prepared for that,” he said. “It’s snow; it just get plowed. Something like water, you can’t do too much with.”
Hannah Lavoie, a sophomore social work major from Wallingford, Conn., said her area came through the storm in pretty good fashion.
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“I was expecting the worst,” she said, “and I’m really glad the worst didn’t happen.”
Lavoie said her family only had minor damage. Their pool nearly overflowed, flooding the yard, but her family was able to drain the water in time. She said many of her friends lost power for a day or so, and one friend had a tree crush her front porch. School was canceled for Lavoie’s sister for most of the week because buses couldn’t travel on flooded roads.
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Lavoie said she thinks people are frustrated from some of the inconveniences caused by the storm but overall are “pretty positive” about the situation.
Mike Coscia, a freshman in journalism, from Havertown, Penn., said his family had minor flooding in their basement, and he was actually surprised there wasn’t more water.
Coscia said most of his friends and family lost power but regained it within about eight hours. He said overall the storm fit what he was expecting, but he was surprised by how many areas near the coast had to be evacuated.
Ashley Franklin, a junior in nursing from Southbury, Conn., said she was concerned for her family before the hurricane because authorities told them to expect to be without power for five days. Her family actually only lost electricity for one day.
“I guess it’s a good thing they hyped it up more,” she said, “rather than expecting less and getting more.”
Franklin said her town had some flooding and fallen trees. Her church was housing and feeding people who had to leave their homes.
She said she was grateful for her family’s safety but recognized that other people were not so fortunate.
“I’m relieved for my family, but there’s still devastation by the coast,” Franklin said. “I thank God that my family is OK, and that no one was harmed. But there were families that were, and I just have to remember that and keep praying for them.”
The worst of the storm hit upper New England, especially in Vermont. Almost a week later, officials are saying power won’t be restored for many people until sometime next week.
Emergency power crews have been dispatched from as far away as Colorado to help in New England.
Tennessee power crews are participating in the efforts in Virginia and the Carolinas.