In the heart of Spartanburg, an Unseen Hero Arises from the Aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene
Every city has its unsung heroes, and Spartanburg, South Carolina is certainly no exception. One name that springs to mind? Johnny Ravan, an expert bridge builder with the Spartanburg County Roads and Bridges Department who has dedicated 50 years of his life to maintaining and improving the county’s roads. Johnny proudly told us, “I’ve built or replaced nearly every bridge on our country roads.”
Unanticipated Trouble
Nonetheless, even with half a century of experience under his belt, Johnny had never seen anything quite like the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene that washed over Spartanburg on September 27. The entire county was hit hard, and Johnny and his team knew they had a big task at hand. He said with a somber tone, “We rode around that Friday, just checking things out. We’re looking at each other, thinking it’s going to take months to clean this up.”
Heartening Response
Yet, in the face of adversity, the Spartanburg County Roads and Bridges team didn’t flinch. Instead, they rallied. Outside contractors linked arms with them, donating 22 crews to operate in 12-hour shifts. When talking about his team, Ravan’s voice filled with pride, describing them as “old country boys”, guys who just know their job and what they need to do.
The early days were the hardest, Johnny admits. The crews worked tirelessly to clear trees from the roads, only to frequently find themselves blocked in as more trees fell and got tangled in power lines. And with no training or license to work around power, this posed a significant challenge. Nonetheless, these crews managed to get the job done. By October 4, all roads were open again.
Next Steps
The Roads and Bridges team is now focused on the next stage of storm cleanup. They have dispatched a fleet of trucks to pick up storm debris that homeowners have left on the streets. As always, Ravan maintains a servant’s mindset – “We’re here to serve the citizens, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
A Look at the Bigger Picture
As we take a step back and appreciate the hard work of Johnny and his team, it’s also a good time to consider what this means in a broader context. Natural disasters like Tropical Storm Helene have enormous impacts on our lives and our communities, but they also remind us of the indomitable human spirit and the power of coming together in crisis. It’s a testament to the dedication and commitment of local efforts, like those of the Spartanburg County Roads and Bridges Department, that we can bounce back from such events.
This autumn, let’s celebrate the unseen heroes in our cities, the committed locals who rally together in times of need, and who show the world that when we stand united, we can weather any storm.
