Let’s face it, Dear Reader, September stank. ... 

And October isn’t off to the best start, either. ... 

I admit I have been spending a lot of time watching the Weather Channel. Probably, far more time than the average person these days. And, frankly, it’s probably too much. But when you’re trying to figure out what you need to pack for a Football Friday, you watch. When a hurricane is bearing down upon the southeast, you watch. And when friends, family, and people you hold close are in the path, you watch. 

Yeah ... I watched ... and still watch. 

When Helene barreled through this part of the country, you look for where Jim Cantore is going to camp out. And Mike Bettes. And Chris Warren. And Chris Bruin. And Felicia Combs. And all the local media. And all the sports personalities turned into news reporters in rain gear and baseball helmets. 

You hope your power stays on and you hope your roof stays on -- and that the blue tarps get to avoid everyone you care about. We weren’t all that lucky ... and to see the stories and stills coming from there are staggering.  

Helene

Fallen trees and downed power lines, like these in Waycross, have been a huge issue.

Credit: WJXT-TV

My natural inclination is to check in with folks whose numbers I have in my phone -- and there’s a lot of football coaches and administrators. When Ryan Herring checked back with me the first time, he had just gotten in from using a chainsaw to clear away trees in his part of the state. His cell service was spotty just after Helene had gone her way. He had been going back and forth in various text chains with at least eight different schools in the south to see how they were doing and comparing notes on what folks may need and how they were doing. 

Our conversations kept going via text and spotty cell and he wanted me to tell you this: 

“GHSA made a great decision. We are very thankful.  We are getting power back in some parts of the county.” 

And when I asked if there was anything folks in Pierce County needed from the outside world, he said this: “Probably just water but our churches have really done a great job of helping everyone.” 

Matt Burleson, over at Telfair County, was able only to reach out via Facebook Messenger. 

“This area got obliterated from the hurricane. Trees and power lines everywhere. No power everywhere in county, most counties around here in same boat” 

He mentioned that he gets to talk to as many people involved in the program daily as he’s able to reach and have cell reception. Telfair County also can’t get into school yet.   

“We aren’t allowed to right now but I open up the fieldhouse to feed and hydrate those that can make it. Surrounding communities that have power have really been awesome bringing in food/water to the community. God is good.” 

Helene

Cleanups like these in Augusta continue to take place throughout Georgia.

Credit: Augusta Chronicle

Matt is in touch with a handful of other coaches himself to keep the circle moving. 

“All the local churches, churches in the surrounding areas, local restaurants, restaurants in surrounding areas, local businesses that have donated time, money, effort to help clean, feed, care for those in our community. It’s great to see our community together to help our fellow man.” 

But then you reach out to someone like Lance Helton at Jeff Davis, and I don’t know if the appropriate emotion is let the sinking feeling in your stomach set or punch a hole in a wall at what Mother Nature has done to life there. 

I could only text back and forth with Lance and it’s heart-wrenching and heart-breaking on multiple fronts. 

“Ninety-nine percent without power. Lost lives. School/Stadium damage. Trees down and on houses everywhere you look. Can't reach out to every kid. Just a mess. 

“School is out for sure this week and we will reassess on Friday. We have 0 power in our schools and each school has damage to it.  

 

“Our auxiliary gym roof is missing. The front arch of our stadium and brick columns are all down. fencing around the stadium and all large signage is blown down. Both of our play clocks are blown down. 

 

“Our field goal posts are blown down on our practice field. And 1/2 of our outfield fence at the baseball complex is down. 

 

“We are spread out significantly from our team and coaches. Small communities such as Altamaha, Denton and Snipesville have all been blocked off due to fallen structures and trees blocking roads. It took us personally a day to cut road access out at our home after the storm so that we could get out. Students in these outlying communities drive close to 30 miles to school, so our county is spread out with kids quite a distance from one another. 

 

Helene

Scenes like this one in Telfair County are common throughout South Georgia following Hurricane Helene.

Credit: WMAZ-TV

“We have reached out to our kids through text and remind 101, and we are trying to check on everyone throughout the community. Our focus is checking on the kids in our town that don't have the luxury of a generator and food. It is a legitimate thought that we may be without power here for 1/2 weeks. 

 

“Our prayer is that we can soon get power at the stadium, so that we can open our doors to kids for showers, meals, and electricity at our fieldhouse. We look forward to seeing them and serving them. 

“We are praying that our community can rally and get through this. We need football back, but more importantly we need to be there for each other. It is awesome to see folks rallying together and attacking damage like a team. Sports matter in moments like this, because we are all rallying together for the greater good as a community. I would like to think that a huddle or two along the way has taught our folks that.” 

And in each interaction I had with a coach, I am in total awe of these people and who they are, who they impact, and what they do on the field and off every day. Admittedly, these three are part of a small sample size of coaches around the state who have been doing this every day. Responses may have different depths of need and everyone is answering the call ... and they’re all doing it! 

And you’re all awesome! 

Just make sure that you keep in touch with those close as best you can -- coach or not, sports or not -- and keep them in your love circles every day making sure we all find out how we can help and what they need. ... 

Until further notice. ... 

Play it safe, everyone ... I’ll talk to you soon ...