Weeks after Hurricane Florence, residents still without power, water

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — It has been almost a month since Hurricane Florence devastated North Carolina. One community in Pender County is still left with nothing.

“Desperation may be putting it mildly,” said Robert Jordan, who’s home is destroyed.

Weeks after hurricane Florence barreled through, a Burgaw community is struggling to survive.

“No power. No water,” said Jarvis Ballard, who also lost his entire home from flooding.

No place to call home.

“The resources that we need, don’t appear to be coming in as fast as we would like them to,” said Jordan.

Families throughout Burgaw are forced to gut their entire homes. They are left looking at years worth of memories piled up on the side of the road.

Residents like Jordan are trying to salvage as much of the community as they can on their own.

“Time is of essence, here in the community. Because the more time we wait, the greater the mold,” said Jordan.

While residents work, there is no place to stay and nowhere to even go to the bathroom. Groups from Virginia and Tennessee have come in to bring cleaning supplies and hot meals, which these people cannot get enough of.

“If you don’t have power, you don’t have water and you don’t have shelter, a hot meal is phenomenal,” said Ballard.

Ballard says their gratitude for the help is endless.

“Sometimes, unfortunately it takes tragedy to bring people together,” said Ballard.

Residents say they are waiting for trailers to be brought in, and for agencies to come out to help. For now, they are relying on these donations from groups around the country.

“We are waiting on God to do even greater things here. This is not the end. This is just the beginning. this is my home,” said Jordan.

The Red Cross was also out in Burgaw Saturday passing out hot meals. Residents say they are grateful for donations of anything from cleaning supplies to food, water, clothes and appliances.