Resilience Amidst Chaos
It was the morning of September 27, 2024, when the unsuspecting folks of Spartanburg woke up to a scene of devastation. As the remnants of Hurricane Helene laid plain, the age-old oaks that lined the streets and proudly stood as a testament to the city’s history and resilience were now strewn haphazardly. Power lines, once overhead, were now lost in a tangle of windsnapped branches and leaves. The trouble began when an unruly tree fell on Heywood Avenue, leading to a power outage that swept across the city just before 7 a.m.
Your friendly neighborhood real estate agent, Marshall Jordan, had obligations interrupt the reeling silence of a city grappling with aftermath. On this fateful day, the stakes were higher. His clients had driven nearly halfway across the country, their belongings packed neatly in a truck, awaiting the keys to their new abode. Come hell or high water, or in this case, Hurricane Helene, Marshall was determined to close the housing deal.
The disaster left more than 170,000 customers without power in Spartanburg County. Despite these odds, Jordan, managed to facilitate the closing of not one, but two houses on that somber day.
“It felt kind of awkward because all of the devastation was being televised, and everything was kind of starting to really go bad in North Carolina,” Jordan shared. “However, in hindsight, it was like, ‘Gosh, I can’t believe we pulled this off.'”
While the hurricane left the local infrastructure in shambles, it luckily spared the two houses Jordan had contracts on. In the spirit of the old adage that the show must go on, Jordan, along with his resourceful attorney, pressed ahead.
Braving the houses with zero power, Jordan persevered. Using the faint light of the late afternoon sun, the documents – wisely printed out a day prior – were reviewed. Insurance claims were verified, undertaken in the shadow of flashlights, thanks to the downed power lines.
Once the papers were sealed, delivering them posed the next challenge. The attorney found himself amidst uprooted trees, obstructing the route to his office. No obstacle was too large for Jordan, who made his way as close as possible, picked the attorney, and made the risky journey over the convoluted path.
“I was able to get about four houses from him, and he was able to walk over,” Jordan recalls, “We kind of grew up together, we swam together, his parents and sister are still around the corner. We all know each other. So I think having that long-term relationship was how we were able to make it happen.“
Ultimately, the duo successfully navigated through the calamity. Finally, at 4:30 that Friday afternoon, soaring spirits could finally begin to replace the fallen trees.
The moving trucks packed with belongings finally found their rightful destination. The new owners, unsuspecting participants in an incredible tale of resilience, could now embark on their new chapter in Spartanburg.
In the days that followed, Jordan continued his noble work, tirelessly reaching out to other clients, checking for damage and offering assistance. Tirelessly aiming to restore a semblance of normalcy, one house at a time.
Emergency Landing of Small Plane on New York Thruway Albany, N.Y. — A small plane…
Spartanburg County Receives Burning Ban Amid Safety Concerns Attention residents of Spartanburg County, your outdoor…
Spartanburg Baseball Fans Can't Wait For Fifth Third Park Debut Our good old Spartanburg, S.C.…
Tim Pearson Appointed as South Carolina State President of Duke Energy GREENVILLE, S.C. – Duke…
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Private School Vouchers on the Legislative Agenda Private school vouchers are once…
Greenville Joins Forces with SkyDrive and SAI Flight to Pioneer Air Mobility Solutions Greenville, South…