A microburst at the beginning of last week literally and figuratively rocked Union Intermediate School, collapsing a portion of the wall and roof over the stage area of the school’s gymnasium and sending students scampering away from the sudden impact.
As the school continues to recover from damage and the trauma to students who experienced the weather-related disaster, we are thankful to school and community leaders who have stepped up to ease that transition back from a freak occurrence. The incident sent three students to the hospital for minor injuries, but it could have been so much worse.
The school is stronger because of the faculty there, who serve as the steadfast foundation while the physical foundation will be further fortified in the weeks and months to come. We also are grateful for emergency personnel who helped in response and those who are ensuring the school is not forgotten during its recovery.
Just this week, several community residents, school and church officials and business representatives chipped in to raise $1,200 in a matter of days to help replace equipment damaged by the Jan. 13 microburst — a downdraft with high wind speeds within a thunderstorm.
Further assisting is the Raleigh-Durham branch of Apex Leadership Company, a nationwide fitness fundraising company, which was planning to host an event at the school when the microburst tore through the gym. Now, some of the proceeds from a fundraising effort through Apex meant for technology, playground enhancements and campus beautification, will also be sifted toward the replacement of equipment for physical education classes.
It’s a worthwhile modification.
With the assistance of Belfore Property Restoration, Sampson County Schools is building a temporary wall for structural support on the backside of the gym. The area is also being prepared for demolition on the exterior wall.
Steps to rebuild the gym, a popular spot for students, will follow.
Wendy Smith’s fifth-grade class was in the gym preparing for a basketball lesson with gym teacher Tanya Robinson-Freeman when the microburst happened. Robinson later told The Independent she thought not about the equipment that she wrote grants to get, but the students who loved the gym and her classes.
Union Intermediate Principal Dondi Hobbs talked about how the teachers were the glue at the school, and that glue holds even stronger now with a shared experience.
She and others looked forward, choosing instead to focus on the positives that come from a harrowing, scary time. On Jan. 16, three days after the microburst,, school administrators, teachers and faculty formed two lines around the entrance to the school, applauding the students returning to school.
“I don’t want to dwell on that,” Robinson-Freeman said of the microburst. “I want to move to a spirit of thankfulness and gratitude. Every one of us lived to see another day and to tell our story. I’m thankful that things are not as bad as they could have been. I lost the gym and my equipment. Those things are gone, but you can’t replace a life.”
“It fills your heart with such joy and happiness,” Hobbs added of the camaraderie and the bonds at Union Intermediate now strengthened. “The building just came back alive when they walked in.”
The incident was captured on video and shared by many media outlets on Facebook, and even reported on by national news stations, and spotlighted on Good Morning America. Many sent prayers and well-wishes, and thankfulness that such a jaw-dropping sequence did not seriously hurt anyone.
As the Union district continues to pick up the pieces, we can’t help but be impressed by Union Intermediate School and its leaders, as well as by the penchant for Sampsonians to rally around those who need it.
Like Robinson-Freeman, disasters are never something we want to dwell on. However, we’re fortunate to have a community that offers a helping hand when one does rear its ugly head.