Here’s what Helene victims have to be thankful for this holiday season
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - It has been two months since Hurricane Helene hit the CSRA and with Thanksgiving on Thursday, it’s looking a lot different for families around the region.
Even with the hurricane rearranging plans, displacing people from their homes and preventing some from traveling, healing can still happen at a Thanksgiving dinner table no matter where you are.
If you ask six-year-old Aiden Sanders about the holidays he will tell you, “There’s no place like home for the holidays.”
His mom Hailey Etzel has kept the same Thanksgiving Day routine since finishing her time in the Air Force.
“We will cook a bunch of food, have some good wine and we have a bunch of friends,” said Etzel. “Being prior military we have a lot of friends who don’t have a lot of family here so we’ve formed our own family. We usually get together and do a really big week-long Friendsgiving celebration.
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But for so many, home looks a lot different this year both inside and out.
“Everyone’s just kind of exhausted after dealing with all of the aftermath of the storm,” said Etzel. “Lots of our friends have damage to their houses and stuff so we are still getting together, but on a much smaller scale than it usually is.”
As people adjust to their new normal, the season of thanks is now one of healing and restoration.
Richmond County resident Ivan Bolgla Bolgla says when he looks around, he feels a little bit of survivor’s guilt.
“We’re thankful our house wasn’t damaged, but we have neighbors whose homes were damaged tremendously and they’ve had to move out while waiting on repairs,” said Ivan Bolgla, Richmond County resident.
CSRA travelers need to brace for ‘busiest Thanksgiving ever’
Just as sure as the turkey will taste dry, airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week. So get ready.
At the end of the day, Etzel says while Thanksgiving is anything but normal this year, she’s learning this season is learning to kick things back to the basics
“We want everyone to come in, relax, get together and be thankful for what we do have,” she said “We were all so blessed to still be here and we have a lot to be thankful for. At the end of the day, the little things and the little blessings that we have are what matter more than a big holiday celebration.”
People told us they were just blessed and so grateful to be alive to see another holiday.
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