Resiliency is the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties, or, to put it simply, fortitude. In the previous episode, we heard four stories of North Carolinians showing resiliency in the face of historic hurricanes, but hurricanes aren’t the only type of bad weather our state has faced. This episode showcases four more stories of resiliency shown by North Carolina citizens when facing other major storms and natural disasters. Join us as we discuss the Southern Railway Company’s emergency response to a historic mountain flood, Rebecca B. Cullum’s overcoming her fears to deliver help after a coastal blizzard, the community of Red Springs coming together to rebuild after a tornado outbreak, and the multi-agency efforts to control a blaze in a wildfire hotspot. Whether it’s individuals risking their lives for others, agencies funneling resources into rescue operations or communities coming together to rebuild, North Carolinians are absolutely resilient!   

 

Tornado Maps:  

Wildfire Map: 

 

Sources:  

  

The Floods of July, 1916: How the Southern Railway Organization Met an Emergency, 1917, Outer Banks History Center Monographs, ID: 33BOK-0-293 https://digital.ncdcr.gov/digital/collection/p249901coll37/id/4917/rec/41   

 

Flood Near Railroad Depot, Asheville, North Carolina, 1916 (1998), General Negative Collection, Record ID: N.98.10.47 https://axaem.archives.ncdcr.gov//solrDetailPages/series/NCA/Series_detail.html?fq=seriesRid:252484  

 

The Lincoln County News, 27 Jul 1916, Pg. 1, “Railway People Hard at It,” LinLCN.4 

 

An Interview with Frances Cullom Morgan (b. 1948), 2021-05-19 [1:00:25] ID: OH.GEN.001 https://axaem.archives.ncdcr.gov//solrDetailPages/series/NCA/Series_detail.html?fq=seriesRid:1154702  

 

The Rocky Mount Evening Telegram, Rocky Mount, NC, 7 Mar 1962, Pg. 1 “Outer Banks Area Isolated by Big Storm,” [Newspapers.com]   

 

Spen-a-Rest Beach Cottages, Kitty Hawke, NC, March 1962 just after the Ash Wednesday Storm, 2015; 1962 ID: N.2015.3.3 https://axaem.archives.ncdcr.gov//solrDetailPages/series/NCA/Series_detail.html?fq=seriesRid:258979   

 

Red Springs Citizen Photograph Collection, 1984 TO 2005, ID: PHC.296 https://axaem.archives.ncdcr.gov//solrDetailPages/series/NCA/Series_detail.html?fq=seriesRid:1144282  

 

News and Observer, Raleigh, NC, 01 April 1984, Pg. 1, “From Ravaged Ruins, Spirit of Recovery Stirs in Red Springs,” [Newspapers.com]  

 

Indian Affairs Record Group, Tornado Disaster, 1984, ID: SR.111.6.025 https://axaem.archives.ncdcr.gov//solrDetailPages/series/NCA/Series_detail.html?fq=seriesRid:1140402   

 

Forest Resources Record Group, Fire Control Section: Fire Reports File, ID: 84.14 https://axaem.archives.ncdcr.gov//solrDetailPages/series/NCA/Series_detail.html?fq=seriesRid:695586   

 

The Robesonian, Lumberton, NC, 5 Apr. 1955, Pg. 1, 4 “Forest Fires Rage in Eastern Areas,” and Pg. 4 “Losses Mount as Fires Rage Out of Control,” [Newspapers.com]