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| The Inexplicable | | | | | | | | I thought back to a picture from my wife's parent's home. The picture, which reflects age and humility, randomly came to mind. I never told my wife or anyone else for that matter. The next day
a present arrived in the mail. It was a copy of the same picture.
All, inexplicable in timing. | |  | | | | | | The Explicable: Rowlesburg WV, 1985 | | | | | | | Rowlesburg, WV after it was devastated by the Cheat River in November of 1985. A community, whereas highways and roads were submerged, bridges taken out, communication and power lines were simply gone. A community of isolated and scared citizens, who could only seek higher ground.
| |  | | | | | | A Day Or so Before | | | | | | | Two trucks drove off road and then through the woods until the area's train tracks were located. With their beacons flashing, both trucks drove up onto the tracks and then traversed rickety-rack to Rowlesburg WV as the Cheat River roared by.
Once in Rowlesburg, communications were reestablished for the isolated and we could only wait until the following morning. The National guard arrived around 6:00 A.M. All of which, led to a befuddled guardsman rolling down his window, looking at me asking; How did you get in here? | |
 | | | | | | Killing Waters 1985 | | | | | | | Weeks later, a Bell Atlantic Manager praised all employees for their efforts in various areas of the State, noting some had even risked their lives. For me, we had made a difference.
Though lives lost cannot be replaced, this picture illustrates devastation, humility and weakness. However, the societal cogs continued turning and the wheels of such would bring normalcy back to the lives of the devastated. | |
 | | | | | | 1989 | | | | | | | Philippi WV's famous covered bridge was nearly Destroyed in 1989. Communication lines that ran parallel to the bridge were burned out of existence and large area suffered isolated communications. We dealt with rainfall and freezing temperatures. Once the rain turned into sleet, equipment froze up to near non-working status. Nonetheless, all communication lines were replaced. | |  | | | | | | The New Media | | | | | | | A video diary of the days news coverage would refer to me as C&P Repair Personnel. Later on, as Philippi Emergency Services. A dual role. Nonetheless, the News Media was there in force and reporting to the public in unhindered real time.
Societal cogs all working in tandem.
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