For thousands of years, man has attempted to tame Mother Nature. We’ve built upon beautiful landscapes, high and low. Most of the time, we coexist with her, and she watches indifferently. But then, occasionally, and incredibly, we’re reminded of her tenacious, unforgiving spirit. Sometimes, Mother Nature awakens and places her power on full display.
Recently, and unfortunately, North Carolina experienced that firsthand. From miles overhead, long stretches of bare dirt appear as scars on the landscape. Once-immaculate lakes stand in as floating landfills. Entire towns that stood proud on the mountaintops are now nothing more than rotting rubble in valleys below. All due to a storm that brought the mountains, and those who live there, to knees, metaphorically and literally.
Devastation Beyond Words
Until someone has been there to see it, it’s impossible to explain or describe the devastation in North Carolina. It goes beyond words, even those of utmost depiction and imagery.
“There have been 1,925 landslides documented from the storm, and the number keeps increasing as more are documented and reported,” said Brad Panovich, a meteorologist in North Carolina. “The death toll for just North Carolina increased to [over 100] people. [Some] victims are still not identified, and approximately 26 people [are] still unaccounted for.”
“I have been in law enforcement for 25 years, and I have never seen the devastation we observed on this deployment,” said Scott Hicks, a Whitetail Properties land specialist in North Carolina. “We spoke with families that lost everything they owned. Their homes, sheds, garages, and all their vehicles went downhill in the mud slides.”
Torrential rainfall and massive floodwaters moved entire mountainsides of earth, all created from so much rain in a short period of time. The displacement was so bad that teams had difficult times figuring out where the moved houses originated from.
“These people are the most resilient, tough, kind, and best spirited of any community I have ever had the pleasure of meeting,” Hicks said. “Emergency services did not know for over 24 hours the area we were in had been destroyed. There was no cell service, no power, and no way for them to be alerted of all the death and destruction that occurred.”
Of course, once alerted, firemen and community members jumped into action. They started working clearing roads and accessing damaged areas.
Neighbors, friends, and family members conducted the initial work. Once they cleared access routes, search and rescue task forces were able to access critical areas. With the continued help of locals, officials located loved ones who survived, and those who perished.
“Keep in mind, those who perished were, at a minimum, a neighbor, family friend, or a family member,” Hicks said. “This area is a very tight-knit community.”
As if individual stories of individual homes, entire neighborhoods, and localized areas isn’t enough, the overarching estimated figures for total damage are astounding.
“I only know what I have heard,” said Chip Camp, a Whitetail Properties land specialist in North Carolina. “But a friend who lives in Henderson County tells me that there was over $100 billion of damage in Asheville, North Carolina alone.”
Not only that, but transportation will remain impeded for many months to come. Interstates are shut down, and will continue to be, well into late 2025.
“I have heard that DOT estimates that Interstate 40 between Asheville and the Tennessee line will be closed until September of next year,” Camp said. “Interstate 26 will be closed until May of next year. When it's all said and done, I believe that Helene will be the costliest hurricane in US history.”
The area was once known for pristine scenery, and it will again, but only if aid continues pouring in for cleanup.
“The photo of Lake Lure shows all of the debris that washed into the lake during the storm,” Camp said. “Lake Lure was one of the most pristine lakes in the state. The before-and-after of Chimney Rock photo is particularly shocking. The whole town is gone.”
“There is a lot of the story that still needs to be told,” Camp concurred.
Help From the Four Corners
Help is pouring from every stretch of the compass into the weather-ravaged region. Most help is coming from individuals, though, and not large agencies.
Of course, where big agencies are falling short, others must make up the difference. Like many others — locals and out-of-towners — Hicks has been working to help affected communities. His team was deployed into areas with several tasks in mind.
According to Hicks, most volunteers have been getting supplies to those who need these. They’ve provided security to anyone not permitted into the disaster zone. At times, they’ve just listened … listened to stories told by people who’ve lost everything, and consoled victims of the ravaging event.
“Most of these residents who lost everything were digging through debris just trying to find items or belongings that they owned prior to this devastating storm,” Hicks said.
Even now, weeks after the disaster, there are still needs. That won’t change in the weeks or even months to come. The impact will last years, and likely, for generations.
That said, people can help with the immediate needs. “The needs are warm clothing for the winter, propane for heating, school supplies for the kids, and labor to help these folks rebuild,” Hicks said. “[Hardly anyone in] the area had flood insurance, so there is no help for these residents.”
“Samaritan's Purse is located in the North Carolina high country,” Camp said. “This is the ministry run by Franklin Graham. The same ministry that does the shoebox Christmas shoeboxes. I have heard multiple accounts of their teams being onsite assisting in the recovery effort.”
This group, and others, have been in the thick of it, dealing with homes that have been flooded. They are trained to assist homeowners who have had flood waters in their homes.
“They have been going into the homes with saws and removing the drywall and insulation that’s been soaked and destroyed up to the high water mark,” Camp said. “This process allows for the homes to be saved and repaired as money and time allows. If the wet drywall and insulation are not removed, the houses will develop mold. Once mold is present, there is very little chance of rebuilding.”
Camp has been in the thick of it, too. He’s been arranging drop-offs for food, clothing, and other necessary items.
“My garage has become a drop-off point for those who reach out needing assistance,” Camp said. “I have coordinated financial contributions through my church, and assisted Whitetail Properties broker Dillion Eckert with a large delivery of food and water from his church in eastern North Carolina.
“I have arranged for 100 meals to be delivered in our local community,” Camp continued. “The men's ministry at Elizabeth Baptist Church in Shelby will assist in distribution to folks free of charge. I have done this in years past, but it takes on special meaning this year. I am attempting to expand the number of meals that we might be able to provide.”
Because of the lack of government help, and the absence of insurance aid, outside help will be needed for quite some time, perhaps decades.
“These residents will require help for years,” Hicks said. “Some power companies told us it would be over a year to get power back to the homes at the top of the mountains.”
Another way people can benefit? Continue supporting tourism in the area. This is the region’s lifeblood, and if everyone cuts that supply, the area will suffer even more.
“Many roads and places are opening up for visitors, and this is important because a second disaster could occur if tourism and businesses don't start returning to open spots,” Panovich said.
What’s Next for Storm-Torn Communities
The current state of the hardest-hit communities? It’s still an area with significant damage, ongoing repair, and continued processing of unfathomable loss.
“It's been exactly one month since #Helene impacted the Carolinas,” Panovich said. “There are still thousands of customers without power in Yancey and Mitchell Counties. Power goes on and off in other locations, as repairs continue.”
Even so, those who live there are starting to rebuild their lives. Appalachians are among the most resilient people, and during the aftermath of this horrific storm, they continue to show incredible fortitude.
Despite the toughness, these people still need more aid. Obviously, there are still needs, and timelines for these won’t end anytime soon. They’ll remain for quite some time. Specifically, they need warm clothing and other vital gear to combat the impending winter weather.
“Most folks who are not familiar with western North Carolina don't realize the significant temperature changes that occur due to elevation,” Camp said. “Many areas of the high country have already had their first snow. Beech Mountain (for example) is the highest incorporated town east of the Mississippi, with an elevation of 5,550 feet. Mount Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi with an elevation of 6,684 feet. Folks who lost their homes also lost their belongings, which means they have no winter clothes and blankets to keep warm. I hear constantly that warm clothes and blankets are two of the most pressing needs.”
“There is good news with the bad, as neighbors helping neighbors, and so many are helping from across the U.S.,” Panovich concurred. “The key is to keep this help coming over the weeks and months ahead. With each new pole, each new road, each new home rebuilt, we will be back stronger than ever. Until every last person is helped, we cannot forget about western North Carolina.”
Life Continues on the Mountain
Whitetail Properties brokers, and many other people from around the globe, have donated thousands of dollars. Collectively, and in time, that figure becomes millions, and maybe even billions. Funding will be needed to get our fellow Americans back on their feet.
“These folks are tough,” Hicks said. “They won't let anything get them down. Not one soul I spoke with said one negative word. They were so positive and happy to be alive. Although they had lost everything, they were still loving, caring, and positive to every single person that came to help them.”
There, in the face of darkness, the victims, and those who journeyed to help them, show light. There, in the highest points of the Appalachians, they stand resilient on the mountain, even after Mother Nature carried their property, homes, and even their loved ones, into the valleys below.
“I came home with a new outlook on life, thanks to these amazing residents of Garren Creek, Flat Creek, Fairview, Bat Cave, and areas in between,” Hicks said. “I can't explain in words the devastation. Nor can I explain the life changes these folks blessed me with. They are all truly an inspiration and real heroes.”
Helene brought the mountains to its knees. But the mountains, and the mountain strong, are resilient. They will stand again. Some already are. Others soon will. Those who won’t, will never be forgotten.
