The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-08-26
g lin P S E S
TIL E P A S T
By CAROLYN LLOYD

"You think this is a storm :?
Why, son in '55-". Ten, maybe
twenty years from now, that is
probably what most of US who are
still around will be saying. My
generation was brought up on
stories of the 1918 storm; now we
can top that one with two hurri-
canes in less than week. 1t is to
be hoped that we won't have occa-
sion to tell story that tops that
enc.
There is little left to be said or
written about that jade, Diane. My
chief feeling is one of deep humil-
ity and queer sense of guilt that
l am so lucky while so many peo-
pie have suffered great loss. Fl
nancial loss is only a part of it
when one sees his home battered
to pieces, as many of my friends
did, and familiar and loved posses
sions either gone altogether or
ruined by water. 1t is sad to watch
a little boy searching through the
mud and debris of what is left of
his home hoping to find his favor
lite toys and his piggy bank.
1t was ironic, to say the least,
to hear over the radio, just before
the current went off, that the hur-
ricane had passed lightly over
North Carolina, and that damage
had not been great. Belhaven had
not seeded from North Carolina,
and at that moment the wind was
bowling like a banshee and it
looked as though the whole Pam
leo Sound would soon be upon us.
The report failed to bring comfort.
Diane had her lighter moments,
of course. The ducks that have be-
come such a familiar sight on the
rivershore had the time of their
lives exploring the town. They
padded by my house with a very
superior air, as if to say that the
flooded streets were a great i'm
provement over those old dry side
walks and roads that only human
beings could navigate. My neigh
Dor, who since Hazel had had a
boat in her backyard, now has one
in her front yard also-a two-boat
family, no less. In the afternoon
we had callers who parked their
boat on the front porch while
pausing for coffee break.
Someone has suggested that ia
stead of buying new automobiles
this year people would be wise to
invest in new boats-provided, OF
course, that anyone has the price
of boat left after three major
storms in ten months. Another
good idea would be to invest in
freight elevators for two-storey
houses. Moving furniture up anc
down stairs twice in one week i;
not recommended as healthfu
exercise. An even better ides
would be to have floors installed
on the same principle of the
theater stages that can be raised
or lowered at will. Then wher
hurricane warnings are out, all one
would have to do would be to touch
a button or turn a crank and up
would go floor, furniture, and all
Impractical? Naturally, but what's
practical about a hurricane.
After reading about the TRACE
dies caused in New England by
flash floods, 1 say give me good
old fashioned hurricane any time
This section has been hard hit, but
we should continue to be thankful
that there was no loss of life,
Some have expressed a desire to
leave the coast forever, and one
can hardly blame those who have
lost so much for feeling discour-
aged; yet the truth is that there
is no place of absolute safety on
this globe. Tragedy in one form
or another may come to man
wherever he may be. Something
perverse in my nature tells me
that should / be safe in the hills
and hurricane warnings were out
on the coast, l would be a little
homesick and want to be with my
friends "for better or for worse.
Tired of reading about hurri-
canes, my friend? Well, l promise
you that if we don't have another
one, l shall never mention the