Editor’s Note: Rev. Neill was pastor of St. John A. M. E. Zion Church in Wilson, NC.  In 1999, Hurricane Floyd brought deadly and destructive flooding to most of Eastern NC.  This is his first-person account of the flood and its impact.

 

As I look from my living room window at the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd, I am compelled to rush to my car radio to listen to the news for further updates, if any are currently on!  Tidbits of information from the streets come my way and it is shocking what I hear.  Roads are flooded cutting off routes of escape from the city west toward Raleigh, east toward Kenly, and some say you can't get through Rocky Mount.  I was scheduled to host a Conference meeting and I needed to know what to do to contact those who would be traveling from all over Eastern North Carolina, as to whether the meeting needed to be canceled.  As others did, I got into my car and began traveling different directions to see the destruction myself.  Sure enough, many of the main roads were cut off.  Later, I received a phone call about a meeting for a few ministers, FEMA, fire personnel, Salvation Army, law enforcement, and others concerning how we would respond to the immediate needs of the community.  Feeling somewhat isolated, I realize that I am the only African American Pastor at the meeting, although I do not know whether I am the only one invited or the only one who attended.  As I listen to those around the room give their professional opinion as to how we should respond and what should be done, I want to add my input: after all, most of the folk affected (though not the only ones) were African Americans and Latinos.  The houses that these folk lived in were condemned because of the diseased water infestation.  And yet, people were encouraged and allowed to move back into

these same houses after all the political maneuvering and pecking order determined how the funds would be split. I am being encouraged to investigate how one particular relief center is distributing needed clothing, toiletries, and other necessary items.  There is widespread discussion that these essential items are being distributed unfairly. 

There are many stories of certain folk being turned away and told nothing else is available, while witnesses observe folk of other ethnicities going into the same facility and coming out with supplies. As President of the Wilson and Wilson County Ministerial Alliance, many people feel that I have an obligation and duty to look into these allegations. In the midst of this misappropriation and misallocation, there are many churches and other people of goodwill who have taken upon themselves the task of aiding the community in vital, down-to-earth ways.  

         Sitting once again at home, looking out my window, I am frustrated. In the aftermath of such a devastating catastrophe, our divisions have hindered an effective collaborative effort to respond to folk who are hurting, distraught, confused, and worried about what life will come to now.  Why is it that folk just couldn't equally and equitably distribute goods and services according to the seriousness of the needs of the community, rather than allow greed, politics, and “turfism” invade an opportunity to show forth the love, fellowship, and grace of God in a practical way?  I encouraged my congregation to bring what they had available, and to prepare food so we could simply travel along the streets and help folk as their need occurred.  As the railroad tracks divide West Wilson from East Wilson, so also the lack of an effective collaborative effort divided us into a cacophony of confused healers.  

         Now, I have just received word that Bill’s Barbeque – a small locally-owned restaurant – is totally underwater and that entire area is not accessible to the public anymore.  In fact, the old location for Bill’s was also condemned, but by some miracle, it remains standing.  Such facts demand that we ask: Why were houses on the East condemned and not restored or repaired, but yet other areas that were clearly affected by the same infested waters, restored, refurbished, refined and operating today? 

         How shall we respond?  Well, by the grace of God, we survived.  Mothers, fathers, and children lost their lives, livelihood, and homes, but we made it through another tragedy, another tragic display of untogetherness.  In times such as these, we must learn to live together with caring and sharing hearts.  The tragedy of these floods have effectively unveiled the unpreparedness of our community.  What once was expected to happen in another 300-500 years has in fact occurred many years before its expected arrival.  This reminds us that we should treat everyday as if it is our last day!  We should adhere to the Scripture that says to us, "be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary walketh about seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).  Looking back, it is clear that our community was so drunk with elitism that we, in many cases, failed our most valued treasures and resources – our people.  

         Today, several years removed from the floods, I believe that the community has in most respects rebounded to its "old self.”  I was moved to another congregation and community in November of 2004, yet I am still in touch with colleagues and constituents, and much is still the same.  Although I believe that God is at work restoring and blessing, for better and for worse much is still the same.

 

BY REV. WILLIAM L. NEILL, PASTOR, 

MT. ZION AFRICAN METHODIST  EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH, FAYETTEVILLE