Virginia District Churches Hit by Hurricane Isabel

When Isabel came calling to the churches and homes of the VirginiaDistrict, she didn't have any good

intentions for the people or buildings. Everyone from the coast of North Carolina to Maryland lost electrical power (some for as long as two weeks) with many homes destroyed or flooded. Trees were toppled like a war zone falling in every direction.

Peniel Friends (Rev. Thomas Steele) parsonage was flooded leaving extensive damage as were many homes of lay people.

Colony Road Friends (Rev. Bill Lockwood) lost all their pecan trees, some which were over 100 years of age. Downtown Portsmouth, VA, was flooded with over two feet of water and one of the tunnels (Midtown) from Norfolk to Portsmouth was flooded full with water which remained two weeks after the storm. Dismal Swamp water filled the Chesapeake City water reservoirs, which leaves the water with a sickening taste.

Camp Wakefield, VA District camp, received severe damage with many trees toppling onto buildings, destroying some. One of the dorms was blown off its foundation. Thankfully, the camp was not occupied when Isabel arrived. Even with all the flooding and damage, there are no known Friends people that lost life or were injured.

Reflections on the Hurricane:
Kay Jones of Hanover Friends in Mechanicsville, Virginia, e-mailed her friends with the following reflections on Hurricane Isabel. "While people were complaining about the lack of electricity, water and/or telephone service, I thought that there must me a blessing or two in all this. So I began jotting blessing thoughts.

• There are numerous kind, helpful, generous people.
• We have many opportunities to become ingenious and innovative.
• The Tuesday food ministry on September 16 was low on meat. I had felt bad that we could only give one or two cut meat items. As it turned out anything more would probably have been wasted.
• We can learn to be more appreciative for God's gifts that we take for granted.
• I appreciate the life-style God has allowed us.
• Families are spending quality time together.
• Doctors and hospitals can prepare for little blessings in June 2004.
• Water is precious.
• An opportunity to perfect the art of flushing the toilet with a bucket of water.
• We filled containers with drinking water in preparation for the storm.
• When stored water ran out, God provided rain to collect.
• We were all safe. Very few injuries and deaths due to the hurricane.
• We are reminded that we are adaptable.
• I felt like we were like the pioneers. Pioneers did well. They lived to be, ah, forty.
• We were in the midst of our own rendition of "Survivor".
• I didn't have to "can" tomatoes.
• A reminder to me that one can cook, fry, boil, bake, and roast most anything on a grill.
• Stars are more easily seen without lights.
• God gave us pleasant, comfortable weather/temperatures. (We didn't have to be concerned about heating.)
• We enjoyed fresh air in the house with open windows.
• We still enjoy reasonable hours of daylight.
• Could we expect a lower electric bill?
• The tent camping experiences from my childhood came in handy.
• I did laundry the night before Isabel came to visit. So we had clean clothes.
• Our refrigerator and freezer got really cleaned out and cleaned.
• Granddaughters learned how to wash dishes by hand.
• Jesus provided teachable moments with granddaughters. We sang "This Little Light Of Mine" and "Thy Word Is A Lamp Unto My Feet And A Light Unto My Path".
• I'm looking forward to discussing the fallen beach houses with them. Build your house upon the rock rather than on sand. We can sing "The Wise Man Built His House Upon The Rock".
• Pastor David (Crisp) gave us some lessons concerning the trees. Flexible trees survive. As do trees that are well grounded. Trees in a group survive better than those that stand alone. Also a big head makes one vulnerable to a fall. Some trees were just in the wrong place. Some trees were just old. Their time had come.
• There was a new kind of greeting, "Got power?"
• Power companies from around the U.S. and Canada came to our rescue. I had a certain indescribable happiness and pride whenever I saw an electric company crew from another state. I wanted to cheer.