Reflections on Dorian Anniversary

by Heather Johnson

Editor's note: Heather Johnson is one of our favorite people. She started posting on Facebook about the hurricane as soon as it happened and kept up the regular reports for the first few months. One islander called her "Ocracoke's poet laureate" in reference to these posts. We shared them here with Heather's permission last fall. (Read Part One here.) And we were eager to read what she would write about the first anniversary of Ocracoke post-Dorian.

I’m lying in bed this morning, tears gently rolling down my face as I reflect on the past year. I remember standing on the porch in my nightgown watching the river of water rush down the road, knowing in that moment life as we knew it would never be the same. I remember thinking “this is bad” but not knowing at the time just how bad it would end up being. I wasn’t prepared for the heartbreak that would follow in the next few weeks, months, even a year later.

I remember how long, hot, & grueling those first days after the storm were. Being filthy with dirt, sweat, & tears. No water to bath in, no electricity. The shock on everyone’s faces as we all wondered about like zombies, going through the motions, not entirely sure what we should be doing or where to start. As the days turned into weeks the story began to unravel, along with our lives. Stitch by stitch, as if pulling a thread from a piece of clothing we began to see the bigger picture exposed. Every day new problems & issues arose, & every day we got up to face the challenges.

I’ve spent the past year wishing my life away. Telling myself “if we can just get through _____, things will get better, we will make it.” The blank in that statement has been ever changing. If we can just get water & power, if we can just get to Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. If we can just get to the end of the school year & the start of next season. If we can just get through these check points, we will eventually get to the end of Dorian. Then the pandemic hit. Double whammy.

Its been exactly a year now & we still aren’t finished with the checklist. People are still displaced from their homes, houses are still being torn down, businesses are still closed. There is still a lot of work to be done, but so much work has already been done. The cars & trash piles that lined the roads for so long are gone, along with Mount Trashmore. Houses have been raised & people have been able to move back home. Businesses have opened their doors. There are a few signs of destruction still left, but overall you can’t see the devastation much anymore.

Ocracoke, I am still in awe of your strength & resilience. I am honored to be a part of such an amazing community. I am so proud of each & everyone of you, we’ve come such a long way in the past year. I hope you all take a moment today to give yourself the praise you deserve for making it this far, & to take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the place we all call home. You worked so hard to get here, take a moment to reward yourselves.

I’ve said it before, & I’ll say it again, we would not be where we are today had it not been for the overwhelming generosity of others. To those near & far who have helped us a long the way, THANK YOU! Your kindness restored my faith in humanity. Whether you volunteered, sent donations, or just simply kept us in your thoughts, you are so appreciated. I will never be able to put into words just how much it has meant to all of us to receive your love & kindness.

Now everyone get out there & enjoy this beautiful day & the gifts life has to offer. Much love to you all!