Community has been the keyword in Enfield as the town waits for power to be restored.

Mayor W. Mondale Robinson said earlier today full restoration is expected later today.

The town has called for an emergency Zoom meeting this evening at 5:30.

(The meeting link is: https://blackmalevoterproject-org.zoom.us/j/89359542126?pwd=Yfz6b0Nabf39DCiJQLW2PWAA7c4veg.1

Meeting ID: 893 5954 2126 Passcode: 308527)

As an Enfield native, Robinson said this community spirit “is exactly what I’m used to seeing.”

While he is aware the town gets a bad rap, he says it is a few who cause the problems in the town. “What we need are resources from the state and federal government,” which he said may be in short supply with cuts being made at the federal level.

Latest alert

An alert posted earlier today on the town’s website said, “We are actively working to restore full power to the town as part of the installation of new equipment. To complete this work safely, two circuits will need to be taken offline, resulting in temporary power outages for some residents.”

The town said it anticipates that all power will be restored within the next six hours. “In the meantime, residents are welcome to use the facilities at Inborden School, the public library, and the community space above the town offices.”

As the town entered its fourth day since a storm Saturday knocked out its power grid, resources were still coming into the town.

“We’re here to help the community,” said Hadley Deans of OIC. “Our motto is helping people help themselves. We heard of the crisis in Enfield so we immediately wanted to come down here and be of assistance to help.”

OIC was doing blood pressure checks, medication refills, and more with a primary doctor onboard a mobile unit. “This is what we like about our mobile unit — that we could bring the service right to the people.”

One man waiting behind town hall said, “It’s been rough.”

“I’m just glad to be in the living,” a woman talking to the man said. “We could deal with it because everybody’s pulling together and we’re going to make it. There’s nothing to complain about because at the end of the day it’s still people. It’s hot. Everywhere you go it’s hot. With the power being off it doesn’t make any difference.”

The woman credited the mayor and Lady Shanetta Pittman for pulling together during the long power outage. “They’re doing everything they can do and we appreciate everything that they’re doing so we can’t complain about anything they’re doing because, first of all, you’ve got to trust God in everything you do. If you don’t trust God you ain’t gonna make nowhere.”

She said it was simply an outcome of nature. “It could have happened to anybody — not just Enfield. I’m not blaming my mayor because we appreciate our mayor. We love our mayor. We appreciate Shanetta. We appreciate everybody that’s doing what they’re supposed to do for the community. It’s nothing negative because love outweighs negativity.”

She said she expected her power to come back at some point today. “We’re still going to be alright. We’re going to survive.”

"Enfield taking care of Enfield"

Around 11:54 this morning, while interviewing Pittman, the power came back on in the building where she was managing the inflow and outflow of food.

A small cheer could be heard from the room where people were keeping a checklist on the food.

“Praise God,” she said. “The fact that the electricity is on is a blessing. It is my prayer that we are safe, meaning the power stays on.”

She said, however, “That does not mean that the help ends because people might still need food because their food probably spoiled. So the help is going to continue as long as we can have it.”

Before that point she said, “My main concern is just making sure families have food to eat. We are in a state of emergency. Even prior to that the main goal was just to make sure our families had food to eat because some people are totally on electricity and some people have gas.”

Pittman said her main goal through the ordeal was wanting to bring people together making sure that people were fed.

When she woke up Sunday morning the power was still out and called McDonald’s in Rocky Mount. “People are going to wake up. They’re going to want breakfast.”

She picked up 100 biscuits — split evenly between sausage and chicken.

And then St. Paul’s Baptist, which was having its Family and Friends Day, opened the event up to the community and grilled outside.

Then the school system opened Enfield Middle so people could come in to cool themselves, charge phones, hang out and relax.

This is the Enfield that Pittman has always known. “Enfield is a very tight knit community. We are big on family. We look out for each other and I know sometimes we can be viewed from the outside as a negative place but as you see, Enfield came together and Enfield is taking care of Enfield.”

She grew up in Enfield. “I haven’t known Enfield not to take care of its own and that's what we’ve done. That’s what we’ve always done. In times like these people band together and say ‘we’ve got water, we’ve got lights, we’ve got air, we’ve got food. Come to our house and have dinner.’”

"Everybody is trying to chip in"

At Market Plus, Danny Peed was outside grilling chicken on a double-sided cooker.

Over the past two days he said, “Everything is going crazy. I know with the lights out there isn’t any food and everybody’s food goes out.”

On Sunday he cooked about five cases of chicken and was doing three today.

When he posted about the cooking people were pulling up and bringing plates and ice as well as donating drinks. “Everybody’s coming out here because they know it’s for a good cause. Everybody out there is trying to chip in. That’s what we need out here.”

Wykeia Whitaker was helping Peed.

“I think it’s a good thing that the community is coming together because it’s such a small town,” she said. “We could all use the help and the food is a blessing.”

She said people coming together is what it’s all about. “That’s what makes the community when we’re all pitching in to come together.”