Journal Editorial: The power of wind is no match for the strength of community

Wind is a funny thing.

On most days, it’s little more than a gentle breeze that rustles the leaves, dries a freshly washed car or reminds us to grab a jacket before heading outside. We rarely think much about it because we can’t see it. We only feel its presence.

But every once in a while, the wind reminds us just how powerful the unseen can be. Saturday evening was one of those reminders.

With gusts exceeding 80 miles per hour, the wind tore through Brandon, Valley Springs and surrounding communities with incredible force. Massive trees that had stood proudly for decades were suddenly uprooted. Limbs that had provided shade were scattered across yards, streets and parks. The landscape changed in a matter of about 30 minutes.

One of the most striking sights was along the north side of Risen Savior Catholic Church, where one towering evergreen after another was toppled. Trees that seemed permanent – trees that had weathered countless storms before – were lying on their sides, roots exposed to the sky.

It was a heartbreaking reminder that even the mightiest among us can be brought down.

Yet if the storm revealed the incredible power of nature, the days that followed revealed something even stronger.

By Sunday morning, the sound of chainsaws became the norm. Neighbors checked on neighbors. Families helped one another clear branches. Friends showed up with trailers, work gloves and willing hands. Social media was filled with photos of storm damages, of people helping one another, and of offers of assistance.

The City of Brandon quickly opened an emergency branch drop-off site, providing residents with one more tool in the recovery process.

It was community at its very best.

We were also reminded of something we should never take for granted: no lives were lost.

The trees can never be replaced exactly as they were. It takes decades for a tiny evergreen to become a towering landmark. But new trees can be planted.

Storms also have a way of humbling us. For all of our technology, our planning and our accomplishments, we’re reminded that there are still forces far greater than ourselves. And as much as we want to be, we are not in control.

But while we cannot control the wind, in these circumstances, we can control how we respond after it passes. We can choose compassion over inconvenience. We can lend a helping hand instead of looking the other way. We can rebuild, replant and restore. That may be the greatest strength of all.

Yes, the winds left behind broken branches, splintered trunks and mountains of wood chips.

But they also uncovered something far more enduring: the character of our people.

The landscape may look different today than it did a week ago. Some familiar trees are gone. Some favorite views have changed. Yet the roots of this greater Brandon Valley community remain firmly planted.