Last Monday’s fire at Chimney Tops 2 that has left now 14 dead and 1,700 buildings damaged or destroyed is one of those events where words fail. How does one adequately describe such an event? Thousands of people displaced, loved ones lost, tokens of memories all gone in a quick 24 hours. Sad is the only word I can think of.
Interestingly enough I had planned on taking my little brother hiking up the Chimney Tops this past weekend. Because there have been several fires in the region for the past few weeks I had went online last Monday to check the air quality. I was stunned to see Gatlinburg in the path of a wildfire that had jumped from 50 acres to 500 acres in a 24 hour period. Again, words fail.
It is one thing to hear about devastating incidents occurring in places such as California but this one hit home. I was just in Gatlinburg a few months ago. I have hiked many trails in the Smoky Mountains. With as much rain as we normally get in the fall, winter and spring I have never thought about wild fires reaching the scope these recent ones have. Yet, here they are, burning away homes. What does one do with that?
I tell you what we do, we band together and rebuild. We help each other out, we look after each other. We pour in so much supplies that after just a couple of days they ask no more donations be given until what has already been given is used. That is the kind of people that live in Appalachia. We do not wait on external organizations to provide for us, we ourselves provide for our neighbors, we start donation centers, we start tallying the needs and figuring out ways to fill them. In all the caricatures others have of the people of Appalachia the heart of who we are is missed – our response to others in crisis. Rarely do you find a better people responding the way we do.
Disasters, no matter where they are or why they came, are never a joyous occasion. It is a sad time for those who have lost homes, memories, even loved ones in the Chimney Tops fire, there is no doubt. Though tragedies come to all people there are few better people to have around for support than the people of Appalachia. We are thinking of you all and pray for a speedy recovery.