Tropical Storm Alberto 1994

IN THE SUMMER OF 1994, I was a freelance writer living in South Florida. I had left the daily Vero Beach Press-Journal for a job that had recently not worked out. So I was hunting for another full-time gig as well as scrounging for paid writing opportunities. A pal of mine from my days at Central Michigan University, Tim Penning, told me he was accompanying his wife Cindy on her trip to Georgia volunteering as a social worker in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Alberto, which claimed 33 lives, was considered the worst flood event in the history of the state, and was a national story. I do not recall whose idea it was, but the idea was presented that I would drive up and meet them, to write some freelance articles. We connected with Mike Haskey, a fellow CMU journalism alum, and a photographer for the daily Columbus, Ga., Ledger-Enquirer, who had covered the storm in the preceding weeks. I ended up writing local stories for local Michigan newspapers. I could have stayed there for weeks and written similar pieces for papers across the country, as Red Cross volunteers swarmed the state. I would not write any of these the same way today. It was a different era for journalism. But that’s life. I wonder today if at least the Detroit Free Press piece was picked up by a Georgia paper. Also: I have reached out to some of the people I interviewed in that summer. Maybe I will write about them again. All photos by me, except for the shot of me, and that likely is by Haskey, who provided food, shelter and a kitchen table where I set up my Macintosh LC-II and monitor.

Detroit Free Press

Relief worker paints smiles over flood memories - Ionia Trucker makes a career out of helping / Aug. 12, 1994.

Kalamazoo Gazette

A flood of help from Michigan - Local Red Cross volunteers aid and comfort victims of Georgia disaster / Aug. 14, 1994

Battle Creek Enquirer

Putting the pieces together - Family works to clean, fix damaged home after July flood / Sept. 7, 1994