Saturday after Hurricane Helene hit, the hubs and I were traveling on I-85 south coming to Salisbury, and in the right hand lane, we passed no fewer than a dozen utility trucks from another state, clearly heading out to help restore power to one of our hard-hit areas.

Sunday, I saw a line of ambulances on the same highway.

I admit, it brought me to tears. Because it reminded me of something very basic.

This is who we are, who we have been, and who we should always be.

We had an article this week about the numerous first responders across Rowan County who have deployed to western North Carolina to help with search and rescue, provisions and recovery. People have come from far and wide, inside and outside of the state, to help. Sure, the government is helping, and has been, but the bottom line is we, who are living lives that but for the grace of God could suffer what others have, are the ones who go to help.

And not one of those first responders, line crews or volunteers is stopping to ask any questions of those calling for help. Because nothing matters beyond the fact that they have called on us. We go.

I know it’s political season. I also know I steer clear of political columns. That is not my forte.

But I also know that politics has no place in this situation. This is basic human need — people needing each other. And we are answering. With love, compassion, kindness, generosity and strength, we are helping.

At any time, this disaster could affect any one of us. At any time, Rowan County could one day be hit with a disaster like Helene, and I have faith that if that ever happens, others will come to our aid. And continue to come until we can stand on our own again.

And so I am reassured seeing those trucks, watching firefighters depart for northern parts, getting photos from police and deputies, having friends describe to me their supply trains they are working, knowing that whatever else is happening, this remains who we are.

I hope we can hold on to this. I hope that as the days, and the months, and yes even the years that it is going to take to recover and restore, we can hold on to this. The idea that we don’t have to agree on everything, we don’t have be exactly alike. Our differences are what make us individuals. And those differences should not keep us away from, or apart from, one another. They should be celebrated and enjoyed, or at the very least tolerated, because every one of us is unique. There isn’t one of us, even in twins, that are exactly alike. (I do know, we have a set of identical twins.)

I am heartbroken for our state, for our beautiful mountains, for what we have lost and what individuals have lost — family and friends, homes, businesses. I grieve because in my heart I do know some things will take ages to come back, and others won’t come back at all. And some folks will have left us because of this storm and its aftermath.

But I am also celebrating our coming together, our determined efforts to help one another, to get to the unreachable places, to collate lists of people who have been located to let family members know they are OK. I celebrate the ongoing collections at more and more locations, the lists of most needed items updated several times a day, the offers on social media of help from those with a wide range of expertise.

The images we are seeing are sometimes unreal. It’s hard to believe they reflect the true devastation, and yet I know the reality is worse than what a camera can capture. But I also see the images of the helpers, and there are more and more with each picture, each video I see. And I know we will get through this.

We are human beings, every one of us, and at the end of the day, we are all we have. Each other.

And man, look at us go. To all of you — well done indeed.

Elisabeth Strillacci covers crime, courts, Spencer, East Spencer and Kannapolis for the Salisbury Post.