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When a Hurricane Hits the Mountains: Helene, September 2024

September 30, 2024

In the wake of hurricane Helene so many lives have been altered forever. The last report I heard was that over 90 lives were lost in the region leaving hundreds, thousands even, with a person-sized hole in their hearts. Countless people lost everything but life, and they now must cope with the struggle of figuring out how to move forward, to rebuild from scratch, and recreate a routine, a life.

We are among the fortunate and blessed in this storm. Our home and property are intact and unharmed. We have electricity and, therefore, water. All we lost was internet and cell service leaving us unable to communicate with anyone beyond those we see face to face.

 

In the towns and villages east of us, including the city of Asheville, there is great devastation—flooding of epic proportion, landslides that have taken out mountainsides and whole sections of interstate 40, a major east-west corridor.  Small towns were under water, bridges have been swept away, villages have been erased as if they never existed.  Those left behind, even those with homes intact, have no electricity, no water, no internet, no cell service.  With major roads washed away emergency supplies are being brought in by helicopter pilots, shelters have been set up for those who either lost their homes or simply can't stay in them.  Gas has become a very scarce commodity—shots have been fired at gas stations by desperate folks in the Asheville area. In surrounding areas, like the community where we live, gas stations that still have gas placed a limit of ten gallons per person paid in advance by cash.  Everything is cash only since the internet and cell service is down throughout the region. This has given rise to a rush on banks which has resulted in some banks limiting cash withdrawals to $100 per person.

 

I cannot access television coverage, I cannot email or text or call or use messenger or post on social media.  My access to information has been limited to an old-fashioned FM radio. Go today and buy a good one with good reception that can run on batteries. You never know when it may be your only source of news and information.

 

Yesterday, Sunday 9/29 I drove to Bryson City, a small town west of us, to buy a few grocery items.  The cashier reminded me that they were operating cash only. I asked whether this was because of the internet outage. She shrugged and said, "I honestly don't know, but I don't know anyone that has internet." A man in the next checkout lane turned toward us and said, "sir, if you need access to internet you can go to McDonald's and connect in their parking lot."  Well, I paid for my groceries and drove to McDonald's.

 

As soon as I connected, my phone began pinging and dinging with multiple notifications.  I responded to family and friends who were concerned over not hearing from us. Then I made a general FB post about our current situation and promised to update as often as I can get to a WiFi source.  As of today, 9/30 we have no internet without the nine-mile trip into Bryson City for a visit to McDonald's.

 

Each time I turn on the radio I am hearing reports of shelters, water services, and rescue efforts in the midst of all the devastation.  At present this region is the focus of national news reports, thoughts, and prayers. But we all know how the media feeding frenzy moves from meal to meal and soon this catastrophe will no longer feed that need.  Friends, the situation here is not a "story" on the evening news. It is a life-altering event for countless human beings like yourselves. Please don't let this become a "bless their hearts" event that grabs your attention until the next headline flashes in bigger, bolder font.

 

This is real life for thousands of adults, children, and pets.

 

If you have ever visited these mountains to enjoy the brilliance of fall, the splendor of new green, the joy of dogwood and laurel blossoms in spring, hiking or camping along the trails, the exhilaration of white-water rafting in the summer, or cruising along the Blue Ridge Parkway, then you have left a piece of your heart here. You, too, have lost a treasure. You, too, know the magic of this glorious region.

 

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