By Agnis Chakravorty Staff Writer
From the November 14, 1985 edition of The Salem Times-Register
For seven freshmen girls and their resident assistant on the third floor of Roanoke College’s Crawford Hall, Monday Nov. 5 will be a day they may never forget.
Chances are neither will the people who came in contact with them that day at the Red Cross evacuation center at the Salem civic Center.
On that fateful morning when “The Flood” swept away the belongings if many Salemites, Gwenyth Hill, 18, Harrisonburg; Drema Armentrough, 19, Raphine, VA; Tracy Economidas, 18, Virginia Beach; Karen Aprker, 18, Crockett, VA; Rhonda Meadows,18, Speedwell, Va; Jennifer Barger, 18, Roanoke; Beth Slusher, 18, Roanoke; and Cornelia Ramsey, 20, Richmond, forgot about their boyfriends and English term papers in order to help those in need.
The hours of sacrifice that awaited the was nothing new to these girls who are all members of Circle K, a civic minded organization that is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. Rather, the severity and the suddenness of the flood took them by surprise.
“Circle K has done other things in the community like work with the Red Cross but this was different because of the spontaneity of it,” said Ramsey, the president of the Roanoke College Circle K and the R.A. on the third floor of Crawford. “I am so proud that we were able to get together so quickly.”
Cornelia and her hallmates had not realized the potential danger of the flood until they heard reports from the administration at Roanoke College. At that moment everyone decided that something should be done even though no one has asked them for assistance. “I was glad I could help and I wanted to help because it could have been our houses and families,” said Karen Spraker. “I felt bad that we were safe and dry.”
AS a result, the seven freshmen went to the courthouse, Cornelia Ramsey couldn’t go because of her duties as a R. A., to see how they could be of service.
At the courthouse the co-eds were told that although their help was appreciated, they should check with the Police Department, who in turn, told them about the need for volunteers at the Civic Center.
Having no transportation, the girls walked, and sometimes waded, to reach their destination.
“When we first got there, they thought we were there to register because we were soaking wet,” said Jennifer Barger. “I guess we must have looked really bad.”
Once at the relief center the residents of Crawford Hall did everything but actually cook the meals. They brewed fresh coffee, stacked up the food tat was being brought in by organizations such as the Salvation Army, and kept everything running smoothly.
The work they did was not as glamorous as some of the heralded rescue operations but it did make a difference.
“From what I’ve heard they basically the only group of college students that went down there and were able to go in and take over do the jobs that needed to be done.” Said Ramsey.
“They didn’t have to be told what to do they just went in there and started working. This enabled trained volunteers to o and do other things- like the Red Cross could go and concentrate on medical needs.”
All total the girls worked from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday. Luckily, they didn’t have to walk home. “An ambulance escorted us back. It was really fun,” said Rhonda Meadows.
Ramsey remembered her thoughts when her friends came back. “I was incredibly proud of them. I was in mu room and these guys came in tired and drenched to their socks. They looked like they could have been the victims,” she said.
The sacrifice was far from over. The next morning the same girls, including Ramsey, woke up at 5 a.m. and headed back to the civic center. They stayed there six more hours until classes beckoned. “I just wanted to help people. We were still needed so we went,” said Gwyneth hill.
The sacrifices these co-eds made had helped return Salem to some sense of normalcy. If it hadn’t been for caring d citizens like this the tragedy could have been much worse. The young ladies at Roanoke College can be proud of their efforts. It did matter.
