Hope After the Storm
I never thought that my visit to Wuyuan would be to assess the effects of a devastating flood and not for its infamous scenic splendor. Instead of relishing the beautiful landscape and charming old villages, I was surrounded by houses that have been turned into shattered bricks, muddy roads, piles of driftwood and fallen trees.
July 12, 2020, Sunday. Dazhangshan Township, Qinghua Township, Sikou Township in Wuyuan County. Sunny.
The afternoon sun was hanging high by the time we arrived in Wuyuan the day before. There was hardly any clouds to shield us from the scorching sun that stung our skin and radiated such heat that it gave me a feverish headache. The weather was ruthlessly hot that you could almost fry an egg on one’s head.
Even though the sun was causing the flood water from the rainstorm to recede, the heat also made walls of houses previously soaked in water become brittle, creating a hazard for residents who returned to clear their homes.
At Dazhangshan Township and Qinghua Township, I saw traces of the flood in villages that stood along the river. Houses that now sit three to five meters away from where the flood water has receded to were damaged to varying degrees and exposed their beams. Houses built on the riverbank were half destroyed or totally flattened by the flood. Narrow paths between the buildings were filled with knee-high mud. The concrete road next to the river cracked like a plasterboard. Piers that protruded out of the water serve as a reminder of the small stone bridge that once stood across the river. In the past, one would enjoy a scenic sight of the river against a mountaneous setting. But now, the view has turned into a huge muddy slope next to a sea of debris that was washed from upstream. The metal barrier that once lined the road was bent by the flood. Farmland and their crops were soaked and destroyed. Looking at them, you could tell the direction the water came from and where it headed. The flood showed us its might. But what about the people who lived here?
Every where I stood – on the farmland, by the road, on the river bank or among the broken bricks, I couldn’t help but ask, why is nature so ruthless? One strike and it nullified man’s labor and toil, crushed loving homes and destroyed the fields and machinery that man lived on.
Despite all that has happened, we can still find love and joy. At the temporary shelters, children are not troubled over the lost of their homes, because they have their parents or grandparents with them. On the faces of parents, there are signs of worry but not despair, because their children are safe, healthy and by their side. Hope remains as long as we are together.
▲ Looking at the clear blue skies, one would not think that the area was just hit by a destructive flood.
▲Dilapited buildings with exposed walls pose a higher risk when subjected to the sun. Despite the danger, some residents have returned to clear their homes.
▲I was lost as I stood on a “house” which only had a toilet and kitchen stove left standing.
July 14, 2020, Tuesday. Madang Township, Mianchuan Township, Tianhong Township in Pengze County. Sunny.
After spending several days under the sun, I began to wonder did our small team bring the sun to the places we were visiting. Except for the day of our departure, there was no signs of the cloudy overcast and showers predicted by the weather reports.
On Tuesday, we added a last minute task onto our list and headed to Pengze County to assess the flood situation. Pengze is situated on the bank of one of the tributaries of the Yangtze River, neighboring Hukou and Duchang County. These three counties are easily affected by overflow from the Yangtze River, especially Pengze County which gets a direct hit due to its proximity to the river. As it also sits next to lakes and is surrounded by mountains and water, the floods in Pengze County has been exceptionally severe this time.
On the high speed train from Wuyuan to Pengze, I saw areas on both sides of the rail sudmerged in water and we could only see the tip of trees. It’s not difficult to imagine the hectares of farmland lost in this sea of water. When we arrived, our peers from the charity foundation told us that many roads were flooded and the only way to access some towns was via boat. The boats were needed for rescue and relief work and it was not possible for us to use one for our assessment, so we were able to only visit towns that were accessible by road.
We made it in time to see the evacuation of Mianchuan Township the next day. Mianchuan is a small island on a tributary of the Yangtze River. Its land area is over 100 square kilometers and it is famous for growing cotton. Flooding around the island was severe, and rainstorms are expected to befall the area again, putting the safety of the islanders at risk. The local government rushed to transfer vulnerable members of the community, including women, children, elderly and persons with disabilities, off the island, so that they could find refuge with friends or relatives or stay at temporary shelters until it is safe to return home. Young and capable residents stayed behind to safeguard their homes, assisted by the local government which arranged for daily necessities and flood relief items to be delivered to the island. During the evacuation, everything was carried out in an ordely manner and the travelers helped and took care of each other. With families members they love on this journey with them, everyone was hopeful of what lies ahead.
Nature can be ruthless, but there is kindness in mankind. This sentence may sound like a cliché, but there is certainly truth in it. Nature is always at work, and it can be unkind. Although it allows man to draw from what is has to offer, nature does not govern over man. The human race, which has propagated in the blink of an eye as compared to the planet’s 4.5 billion years existence, relies, cares for, helps and values each other. It is because of kindness and solidarity that those who are in need are able to overcome suffering and that people continue to be hopeful. It is because of love that gives us the strength to keep moving forward. (Article by Cassandra Li)
▲A flooded street.