It's Not Over: Western North Carolina is Still in Crisis Following the Impacts of Catastrophic Hurricane Helene

We're in the middle of pure tragedy in Western NC and many of our mountain communities. For people on the ground in Western North Carolina, the storm has passed but many are still in active crisis.

Hurricane Helene has destroyed us-- and so many villages and towns-- with high winds/tornadoes, landslides/mudslides, flooding, washed away roads, bridges and highways. Under the pressure, dams have broken and contributed to even more of the flooding and damage.

I've seen several news articles interviewing local business owners on the path forward. In my view, it is too soon for this perspective and these conversations. It takes the focus off of the immediate needs today and ongoing search and rescue efforts. It's not over for families still searching for their loved ones, food to eat or a place to sleep.

As much as we want to focus on rebuilding, we need to remind the world that search and rescue efforts are still underway with many people still unaccounted for and trapped across our impacted counties in NC-- which together make up the size of Massachusetts by square miles. This is tough terrain that runs near the Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian Mountains-- mountainous, difficult to reach roads and cities to begin with. In some cases, supplies are being brought in via horseback, ATV, and air for people who can't get out.

We are facing mass power, water and network outages. As of October 1, parties were reporting that there are 1.4 million people without power still across the Southeast. Entire areas and cities have been flattened to the ground and homes swept away. There are still approximately 400 roads closed in North Carolina and the National Guard and FEMA are on the ground with more than 20,000 people registered for assistance. They've closed schools and universities and implemented stringent curfews.

More than 160 have been confirmed dead across the six impacted states-- North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee and Florida. According to Fortune, the economic impact of this event could collectively reach $110B.

This is no doubt a difficult, unprecedented time for everyone impacted. During times of crisis and tragedy, you see the best and worst in people. I'm proud to say in my area of the woods, I'm seeing much more of the best. People uniting and mobilizing to save their friends, families and neighborhood. Citizens using every skill, resource, talent or piece of humanity that they have to help-- medical expertise, drivers, chainsaws, tractors, cooking and cleaning. Opening their homes for food, power, shower and rest. Deliveries of food and care bags to our frontline workers who are rebuilding roads and bridges, restoring power and rescuing people.

Only a few days ago, the local Watauga Humane Society posted that they were flooded and needed emergency foster placements for all of their large dogs and water for the animals-- within a short period of time all of the dogs were fostered, the center was filled with people, water and donations. You could barely walk in the door.

This-- among so many other moments--is the beautiful human spirit in action. These are stories of resilience and care for your neighbor that restore my faith in humanity. It is one of the very reasons that our family chose to call the Boone region and Watauga County our home. This is a beautiful, unique region and place-- the people will rise again.

But right now, there are direct and urgent needs in our communities. Please help support relief efforts in any way you can. Here are a few ideas on how you can help:

1. Raise awareness on the critical needs in our region. Share well-sourced information and news on social media about this crisis that mobilizes action. We can't move fast enough!
2. Donate or give to the organizations on the ground with us. There are many across all states, but here's a compilation of current Western North Carolina organizations accepting donations and volunteers: https://www.vpm.org/news/2024-10-01/hurricane-helene-donations-relief-western-north-carolina-blue-ridge-public-radio
3. Exercise empathy and compassion. North Carolina is major tourist destination with the Blue Ridge Mountains (and the Parkway), Appalachian Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. If you have a vacation planned--- instead of inquiring about the status of your upcoming trip, reach out to see if your local contact is doing okay and ask how you can help.?
4. It will take time to rebuild and some of the economic impacts are immediate. If you love this area and visit often, consider donating your vacation or camping deposit to help keep the many small businesses that depend on tourism in these cities.
5. If you own a second home or vacation rental in the area that was not impacted, make it available to one of the many displaced families in need or offer it up to search and rescue workers.

Thank you for thinking of all of the people impacted. I'm eternally optimistic that this will become a story of restoration, economic revival-- returning all of our NC communities to the beautiful, thriving places they are destined to be.