PIERRISBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – A house on Painter Street in Pearisburg has its roof falling off, but not the roof.
This is the home of Craig County Medic Lynn Garrison. She has responded to hundreds of calls, but this was the first time she had to respond to a call she couldn’t handle from home.
On September 26th, Garrison and Helen were at work at Craig County Emergency Services preparing for what could happen in the coming days.
“I mentally prepared for the storm to make sure I had everything I needed for work, but I never expected something like this to happen,” she recalls. .
Reports of an electrical fire started talking about the disaster on the radio sooner than expected.
“I heard the call about painter’s smoke and started paying attention because that’s basically my home area…Then I got this street address and then I got my home address,” Garrison said. Ta.
She rushed to her home in Pearisburg, but could only watch as the people who normally stand by her side while on the phone battled the flames.
Garrison lost almost all of his property and his three beloved dogs.
“It’s hard. It was hard to be out there that day, observing the people I was working with and seeing their faces,” Garrison said. “The hugs were incredible. They said, ‘I wish we could have done more.'” It must have been hard for them to do it all, but there’s no doubt in my mind. ”
Garrison said the two weeks since losing her home have been difficult, but the support from the community has been overwhelming.
“I’m just overwhelmed and grateful to everyone who came out here and supported me and helped me and donated,” she said. “There are no other words, thank you is not enough.”
She plans to use this experience in her work to understand the victims of the tragedy as a survivor herself.
“There’s always beauty that rises from the ashes. If my story can help someone else, that’s all that matters. Now I can literally stand by someone when their house is on fire.” You can,” she said. If you’re there, you can survive. ”
Giles Rescue, Pearisburg VFD, Narrows Fire/EMS and Eggleston Charge are hosting a spaghetti lunch fundraiser for Garrison on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All proceeds will go to Garrison. Garrison said this will be “Doggone’s delicious spaghetti” and is looking forward to joining the community and moving on.
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