After Hurricane Ana’s passage, a somber tableau unfolds over Woodcrest, where the Old Campus stands as a testament to the tempest’s wrath. Emerging from shelter, we confront a solemn scene, with emergency crews surveying the devastation. Once vibrant, the old campus now mirrors a scene from a tragic epic. Authorities, mindful of safety, have cordoned it off, a silent witness to the chaos wrought by the storm.
Before Ana’s official landfall, chaos brewed. As a harbinger of Ana’s fury, the storm’s outer bands swept the coast on March 11. An odd coincidence, a deliberate power plant explosion plunged Woodcrest into darkness, severing electricity, internet, and phone lines. Amidst flickering candlelight, students gazed into the rain, yearning for respite from the storm. As Woodcrest slumbered, Ana encountered a northeastern front, altering its path. Briefly, storm clouds dissipated, ushering students back into the new Quad, basking in elusive rays of sunshine.
However, as prophesied by several meteorological models, Ana surged with newfound vigor in the vast expanse of the Atlantic, poised to unleash the storm of the century upon Woodcrest. On March 15, as Ana’s strengthened presence loomed ominously closer, sirens echoed across town, urging faculty and students to seek refuge immediately. With the newly designated University Gymnasium as their sanctuary, they converged upon the makeshift haven atop the revitalized campus, steeling themselves for the impending deluge of wind, rain, and floodwaters. Amidst the chaos, a beacon of hope emerged in the swift response of FEMA and North Carolina’s National Guard, who erected military-grade evacuation tents for displaced students and faculty. Adjacent tables, laden with sandwiches, water, and other provisions, offered solace amidst the storm’s fury. Some students trudged in from the rain, clutching their notebooks and cameras to chronicle their transient sojourn, while others safeguarded cherished relics of their research, such as my blue hydrangea nurtured from seasons past.
Amidst the exodus, students found comfort in a whirlwind of rescheduled social events within the gymnasium: SEX’s Boozy Broadway Productions’ auditions for Romeo and Juliet, TA Griselda Martinez’s ArtPressions class, and DAM’s Hornicorns Unplugged. Yet, in the aftermath of these captivating distractions, the true toll of destruction unfolded. The Old Campus, once a bastion of knowledge and camaraderie, now lies desolate and ravaged. The historic high highschool, a relic of bygone eras, teeters on the edge of ruin, its shattered windows and partially collapsed roof bearing witness to the storm’s ferocity. Despite the valiant efforts of emergency responders, who grapple with the aftermath of the hurricane’s onslaught, accessing the decimated old school grounds proves daunting. Flooded roads and severed power lines impede their progress. Nevertheless, undeterred by adversity, these intrepid crews toil tirelessly to clear debris, evaluate structural integrity, and resurrect essential services.
For the Woodcrest community, the path to renewal stretches vast and daunting. The shuttering of Old Campus heralds a profound shift for students, casting shadows of uncertainty upon their cherished haunts. As Woodcrest embarks on the formidable journey of discerning what to preserve and what to release to the winds of change, one truth remains steadfast: the fortitude and unity of our community shall guide us through the darkest of nights.
