By Stephen Roberts
No One Was Equipped
In the weeks since Hurricane Helene inundated Western North Carolina, the region and the people who call it home are still coming to terms with raw devastation. Hundreds of lives, homes and businesses were lost to the historic storm.
“This is going to be a multi-month, multi-year rebuild that we’re going to need help with,” said local business owner, Russ Towers.
Three years ago, Russ’ business, Second Gear, moved into a 10,000 sq. ft building in Asheville’s River Arts District. The colorful, creative center was home to art studios, breweries, restaurants and non-profits. Helene’s torrents turned the French Broad River into a 25-foot-deep wall of water that washed nearly all of it away.
The downpour started on Wednesday, ahead of Helene’s winds. Russ says Thursday night he checked his store’s security cameras, one last time before nodding off for some rest. They had spent the days leading up to the storm preparing the store the best they could, propping up inventory as high as possible.
When he woke up the Friday morning of the storm, the building and everything in it were decimated, along with most of its neighbors. Power was gone, and roads were impassable. Russ had to bike down as close as he could get to see what happened. Peering out from an overhanging bridge, he saw that Hurricane Helene had wiped away decades of work. Some businesses simply disappeared.
Part of the Solution
“We need support, not just for the next week or so, but for the months to come,” said Towers. “People have a tendency to move on to the next crisis, but that’s not what these communities need right now.”
Tens of thousands of homes have been affected across an enormous area. Entire communities are unreachable, cut off by damaged roads and bridges. Thousands of customers are still without power, water and internet access.
“If you’re moved by the spirit of Asheville and its people, please consider donating. Your support can help restore hope and rebuild lives,” said Russ.
Help is underway with national, state and local organizations taking part in the recovery process. Dozens of American Red Cross shelters opened in the immediate aftermath and are still serving communities in Appalachia. Of course, donations from across the country make this help possible and help has never been more essential. Donate to hurricane relief efforts at redcross.org/donate. Or become a volunteer and don a red vest of your own redcross.org/volunteer.
The storm also triggered a critical need when blood drives were forced to shutter across the Southeast. More than 2,500 blood donations went uncollected in the aftermath of Helene. Those outside affected areas are encouraged to schedule a blood donation appointment now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or using the Blood Donor App to help restock the shelves.
Mind and Spirit Now
During Hurricane Helene’s romp through Western North Carolina the Swannanoa River swelled over its banks as well. The Swannanoa neighborhood sat nestled on Thompson Street, just east of where the Swannanoa forks off from the French Broad River. Helene washed businesses in the area off the map.
In one viral video, a man with a smart phone recorded the moment that roaring rapids washed the Asheville Tea Company building into a utility pole. Only the metal roof was visible as the building ripped in two and broke into debris.
The company makes craft teas, sourcing mostly local and regional-grown herbs and botanicals. Company co-founder Jessie Dean says she has been touched by the outpouring of support. Now, she pledges to make a full recovery.
Jessie, however, worries about how badly the storm set back the growers on which her business relies.
"The conversation right now is about how can we help farmers. There's a lot of need in those spaces,” she said.
Jessie wants people to know about a list of resources put together by Appalachian Sustainable Development for small farms. The Red Cross Resource Directory also helps connect people with free or reduced cost services for local communities after disasters.
Days before the storm, Jessie says she never imagined how bad the storm would get. She and her co-workers’ first thoughts were merely whether they should cancel scheduled events or not. They soon realized the danger was more severe.
“We could not move our equipment. It was too heavy and complicated to move in that short amount of time,” Jessie said. “We were already starting to feel fearful about being down there in case of flash flooding.”
That night at home in West Asheville with her husband and two children, Jessie monitored rising waters online as long as she could. When the power went out, she lit a candle and hoped for the best.
The next day, Jessie and a friend got as close as possible by car, then hiked through the woods until they could get a view of Thompson Street. She says it took several moments before they could even recognize what used to be.
“It was like looking at a magic eye,” said Jessie. “All of a sudden, things come into focus, and you realize that's where it was. It's just gone.”
Accepting Help
Asheville Tea Company had their 8^th^ anniversary in September. Instead of celebrating the milestone, business owners like Jessie Dean and her neighbors are picking up the pieces, and helping family, friends and neighbors deal with tragedy.
"I think it will be an incredibly long road for both baseline survival resources to be restored and for people to process the sense of loss and devastation that we've seen," said Jessie.
Weeks after the initial shock of storms like Helene, the effects can have an ongoing impact, both mentally and physically. That’s why Red Cross disaster response places disaster mental health workers onsite in shelters and other locations.
This is a difficult time for everyone in the region. It’s important to take care of yourself and reach out for help if you need it. Help is also available through the Disaster Distress Helpline—a free call center open 24-hours a day with multilingual support. If you know someone in need, be sure to let them know about 1-800-985-5990.
"At the end of the day, with our business, it is traumatic and devastating. But there is so much loss right now, loss of lives, loss of pets, loss of homes," said Jessie.
Emergency responders are still searching for missing persons weeks after the storm. If you need assistance locating or connecting with a loved one because of Hurricane Helene, the Red Cross may be able to help. If you haven’t already, consider filling out the reunification form. Red Cross Reunification teams are working as quickly as they can to make these connections.
Western North Carolina has only begun the long journey of recovery from Hurricane Helene. But stories already abound of community spirit and unity. What makes the region so unique and beautiful has rarely been clearer. With ongoing support, donations and volunteers, the region will certainly thrive again.
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