When you need a welcoming place after a storm
By Jimmie Epling
Director
Darlington County Library System
The passing of Hurricane Matthew left thousands in Darlington County without power and many with damage to their homes, vehicles, and property. It was a frightening time for many as the storm swept through, toppling trees in its wake and plunging large areas into darkness. In the aftermath of such a grim experience, the Library can offer a welcoming respite for those in need.
Emergency responders and repair crews fanned out across the county to assess the extent of the damage and begin the process of recovery after the storm made its way northward. All four of the Darlington County Library’s locations, Darlington, Hartsville, Lamar and Society Hill were affected by the storm. Monday morning, with all four locations of the Library closed, I left home, which was without power, to survey the condition of our buildings.
Making my way along the Old Camden Road toward Society Hill, I saw several downed trees. When I arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to find the Society Hill Library with power and only a few small branches littered the lawn.
The trip to Hartsville revealed a very different landscape. There were many large trees that had fallen creating widespread problems. A block away from the Hartsville Branch a very large tree had fallen on a home doing considerable damage. A walk around the building revealed no obvious damage. When I entered the Branch, it was like all of Hartsville dark. The surprise was to hear a disembodied voice coming out of the shadows! It turned out to be Branch Manager Audrey Tripp who had walked the short distance from her home to the Branch. The only result of the storm for the Hartsville Branch was a roof leak in the meeting room. Later that day, I was told the power was back on at the Branch.
The road to Lamar held signs of the storm’s passing. As with Hartsville, there were downed trees and the town was without power. The Lamar Branch was undamaged and without power. Surveying the park behind the Branch revealed a couple of very large tree limbs that had fallen perilously close to the building.
Darlington was like Hartsville and Lamar, many fallen trees and without power. The Branch came through the storm with only a couple of roof leaks. It was not until Wednesday morning that power was restored.
At such times as we experienced with Hurricane Matthew, the Library can help in many ways.
The Library is a welcoming shelter to all. If you want to get away from the stress for a time to relax in a warm, bright, and inviting place, the Library is here. Just drop in any time we are open. You will find comfortable chairs and much to take your mind off your troubles with a good read by your favorite author. The Library is the perfect place to visit with your children when you have no power in your home. They can read, play with educational toys, or play games that will stretch their minds on the computers.
For those without power, we are the perfect “charging station” for all your portable devices. For many, a smartphone is their only link to the world. When there is no power to your home, charging your phone becomes critical. You can drop by the Library to charge your phone, tablet, and laptop on us. There are plenty of outlets where you can plug in!
Access to the Internet in the aftermath of a storm like Matthew is important in securing assistance and reaching loved ones. The Library offers free Internet service through our public computers and Wi-Fi system. The number of people using our Internet daily is proof there is a large segment of the population without Internet access. This service becomes even more critical when the power is off for hundreds and thousands, some for as much as a week or more. Do not be alarmed when you drive by one of our branches and see someone parked in our lot at Darlington, Hartsville, Lamar, or Society Hill. They are likely using our 24/7 Wi-Fi network to access the Internet.
Lastly, do not forget the staff of the Library is here to help after a major storm. Whether it is getting access to government assistance, finding a home or auto repair guide, picking the right books for your children, or discovering a good read to pass the time, the Library’s staff is ready to assist you.
The Darlington County Library has resources that you can use as you recover from a storm like Matthew. Whether it is something to read, a place to charge a device, access to the Internet, a do-it-yourself fix it guide, or just a welcoming place after the storm, the Library is here for you.