I think that if there’s one thing we can learn from the ice storm and its aftermath, it’s that we can’t fully understand the extent of something until we face it firsthand.

The ice storm was unlike anything most of us have ever seen in our lifetimes.

It’s like the Michigan equivalent of a hurricane, which this storm has been compared to based on the extensive damage and ongoing power outages.

But, that first night, after the power went out for nearly everyone in northern Michigan, our bit of the world was dark and quiet.

The eeriness of trees breaking and falling is something I could try to describe, but for someone who didn’t hear and experience it themselves, they’d never fully understand it.

There was this sense of fear and unknowing, and it was worse in the night as all the sounds seemed to amplify and there wasn’t a single light to illuminate the area. We couldn’t see where the trees would fall or where they might land. It felt apocalyptic, and I could try to describe that feeling, but again, it’s one of those things.

The same goes for the loss of power. While I was fortunate enough to regain power within a few days, there are still some in the area who remain without power.

I can try to sympathize and offer my hand where I can, but I’ll never understand just what they are going through, trying to keep their households in order and taking care of themselves, mentally and physically.

That being said, we have no idea what the lineworkers have gone through — are still going through — these past few weeks.

They are working 16-hour days, every day. They have eight hours a day to shower, eat, sleep, and spend time with their families. Some of them are far from home, too, working in an area unfamiliar to them to restore power for a community they don’t know, far from their own families and communities.

They are working around the clock and through the night to restore power. And, though they might be superheroes to some, we need to remember that they are human, too.

They deserve to go home and sleep in a warm bed. They deserve our respect and gratitude. They deserve better than the way some people are treating them.

It’s sad to see the way people are reacting to the situation and taking it out on the lineworkers who are working so hard to get us back to normal. I understand that the situation is frustrating, but most of them are going through the same thing while spending hours outside in the cold restoring power.

I hope, once the dust settles, that they share their stories, too. It could give people a better understanding of what they went through. I can only imagine how difficult it has been for them, and my imagination wouldn’t even do it justice.

We all have a story to tell as this significant event has affected us all in different ways. Being willing to listen to others’ stories is just as important as telling yours.

Everyone felt — and some still feel — the effects of the storm. We each have memories and emotions to share and be heard.

I’m here to listen to yours as long as you’re willing to listen to mine, and I think we should all consider that moving forward. To be heard is to listen.

I can tell you about how I spent hours in Meijer’s parking lot, as it was the only place I could get internet service, to sort through my email, looking for press releases, as well as scrolling through social media to keep myself up to date on how everyone was getting by.

And, when that first Monday after the storm came — and my apartment was 50 degrees — I decided to drive four hours downstate to stay with my parents.

During my drive, once I was out of the area, I stopped at rest stops along the way to upload press releases to Facebook, keeping our readers informed. I also took this time to check in with others, ensuring everyone was staying safe and informed.

The minute I made it to my parents’ house, I was back to work to let the community know that we would not be able to print a paper again on Tuesday due to the outages.

Then, I took a long, warm shower and ate a warm meal.

And then, I put in a few more hours of work.

I worked with my reporters who were doing their best to stay informed and make phone calls to local officials while also trying to stay warm and safe. They also worked around Northeast Michigan, taking photos to document history.

We were finally able to type up our first, full-length story about the storm that Monday.

I’m so grateful and proud of The News for the work we have accomplished these past couple of weeks. Despite everyone having their own struggles at home, the staff worked from home or made it to the office to do what we do best: keep the community informed.

Knowing we are one of the only news sources in the area, people relied on us, and I just hope they think we did them justice. At least I think we did — and then some.

So now, we all have stories to tell, having lived through this natural disaster. We can all recognize that those who weren’t here might never understand the full extent of it.

But, we need to remember that while others might not fully understand our stories or this situation, the same goes for us not knowing everything about their stories and situations. We can’t always know the full extent of what people are facing, even when we think we’re experiencing the same thing.

That applies to all aspects of life. We need to find a way to respect one another and treat one another with care, as we have no idea what others are going through.

Torianna Marasco can be reached at 989-358-5686 or tmarasco@TheAlpenaNews.com.