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Letter To The Editor

Photo by Sue Watson

Utility work at Snow Lake

Holly Springs Utility Department crews work last week to restore utilities to the devastated Snow Lake community.

Thank you is not enough:
Dear Editor,

To the citizens of Benton, Marshall, Tippah and Chickasaw counties:

I am Laurie Pierpont, the mayor of Snow Lake Shores.

Last Saturday night Snow Lake took a hit of up to 100 mph winds. This was the night before Mother’s Day, when many people were getting ready to celebrate their mothers and/or wives. About 9:15 it hit. Our little oasis was devastated!

By 9:45 the volunteers were out with chain saws, backhoes, flashlights and rain gear. Well into Sunday morning these volunteers from the Snow Lake, Ashland and Hickory Flat fire departments worked tirelessly trying to get the roads at least passable. After less than five hours of much-needed rest, many of these people were back at it trying to finish the job they had started. Some time around mid-afternoon Sunday, all of the roads would at least handle a car and more importantly, an emergency vehicle (which thanks to God, we had not one injury).

Now, I am relatively new at being a mayor, so once we got our cell service back some time Sunday; I started making phone calls to people who have experience in emergency situations. Now here is the crux of my letter.

Monday morning our power company, HSUD, was here, along with crews from Tippah County, and later, Chickasaw. Not far behind was MetroCast, the cable TV company. (The only utility that has not made their presence known is AT&T, so we do not have much in the way of phone service). Our town had many utility poles down, snapped in half, transformers hanging by their wires, cable and telephone wires along with the power lines on the ground. Some of the homes had major damage from huge oaks that came down like dominoes. Many of the driveways were impassable, vehicles were crushed and people were hurting from the devastation.

Benton County third district supervisor Don Jeans and his crew (Larry, Mike and Dudley) were helping me and my maintenance man, Bill Briggs, and two volunteers with the daunting task of cleaning up huge piles of trees. I have been in touch with the Marshall County supervisors and the Holly Springs mayor in hopes of getting more help. The mess is immense.

At times like these, the words “thank you” seem so pale in comparison to the way we feel. I just want everyone to know that we are most appreciative of all the help that we have had up to this point. Our prayers of thanks, I know, are heard by God and those prayers include all who have helped us to get back on our feet. Again, thank you all!

Laurie Pierpont
Snow Lake

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