Cover image: The aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.
“What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven . . .” (D&C 121:33)
Living on the eastern coastline of North Carolina, we are fairly well-versed in hurricanes, storm surges, and the devastation powerful wind and waves can cause. However, the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene, which affected multiple states in the southeastern U.S., caught me—and most others—by surprise. In fact, we were so off target at the possible destruction that my husband, daughter and I left for Charlotte, North Carolina to attend a family event on Friday, September 27th. We drove through wind and rain as we caught the tail end of the storm; after all it was only tropical storm force winds. Upon reaching Charlotte, we were greeted by sunny skies and fluffy cumulus clouds, completely unaware of the chaos unfolding just a few hours to the west.
By Sunday morning, my daughter Rachel came to me with unsettling news. “Mom,” she said with concern. “Asheville was destroyed. We need to check on Erin.” Our preoccupation with the events over the weekend, had diverted our attention from the news.
“[Y]e will teach [your children] to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another. And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need . . .” (Mosiah 4:15-16)
My niece Erin and her family have lived in Asheville, North Carolina for several years. Being a creative and close knit family who love the outdoors, especially hiking, camping, and exploring the French Broad River, western North Carolina is the perfect place to be. Keeping up with her family’s adventures through social media nearly always gives me a moment to enjoy the beauty of our world. Viewing Erin’s photos often brings me to a place where I find myself reflecting upon times past; times when I took my children on hikes to explore the paths along the Potomac River and climb the rocks just off the C&O Canal. Recounting the countless autumns driving through Shenandoah National Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping to hike the trails or picnic at a park with a panoramic view of the valley below, left me wondering how devastating it would be to see those valleys washed out; but more importantly, being concerned for the people whose lives that would be forever changed.
After Rachel alerted me, I tried calling and texting Erin with no response. As we headed back to Emerald Isle, I reached out to my brother (Erin’s father) to see if he had heard from her. He told me Erin and her family were safe. They had been in Asheville during the storm along with Kellie’s family (her sister), but were now in Charlotte taking Kellie’s group to the airport. What a relief! Especially after listening to the overwhelming news reports.
When I finally got in touch with Erin, the emotion in her voice spoke volumes. She explained Asheville and the surrounding areas were in turmoil. Besides no electricity or running water, many people were unaccounted for. The usually serene Swannanoa River had washed away homes, roads, and communities. At that moment they were still in Charlotte, but were planning to head back home. I invited her to bring her family to our home in Emerald Isle, hoping this would give them some relief. “Oh no,” Erin responded without hesitation. “We have to get back to help our neighbors.”
“We were better prepared than most,” she explained. “We camp a lot; so we used our propane stove and a few other things we usually have on hand. I am somewhat of a minimalist; so I don’t keep ‘stuff’ around. I believe it helps me know what I actually have, and how to use what I keep.”
“During the storm,” Erin continued. “We had ten people in our small apartment, seven of them being children. If it had not been for Kellie and her family visiting, I probably wouldn’t have had a full fridge, packed pantry, or even filled up my car with gas.”
“After Helene hit, with no electricity or running water, things got a little crazy. Thankfully, my neighbor had knocked on my door beforehand to let us know the water was going to be shut off. I knew our bathtub didn’t hold water; then remembered these plastic bins my daughter recently brought home. So, we put them in the shower and bathtub; then filled them to the brim.”
“And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” (Mosiah 2:17)
As we continued to talk, Erin spoke at length about her community and the bonds they have created. With many people in such great need, Erin gloried in the response of the local people and marveled at those who came from the “outside” to help. She mentioned how grateful she was that Starlink and Verizon restored communications so quickly. With people stranded, and rescue teams unable to get to them, speaking with someone was crucial to their emotional state.
This is something I learned first hand. CrisisCleanup.org, a management platform that coordinates relief efforts in the disaster recovery process, train their phone volunteers to very first, listen. As victims call in for help, these volunteers may be the first connection, a lifeline, to those suffering. (Your organization, ward or stake can help victims of disasters by registering with CrisisCleanup.org. With Hurricane Milton slamming into Florida as well as the continuing recovery from Helene, they need volunteers to answer calls.)
Recovering from the damage of a hurricane is something we have experienced firsthand. We are familiar with the hard work and excruciating difficulty that can arise from the frustrating task of rebuilding. When our home flooded in 2018 from Hurricane Florence, the process of tearing out all the drywall and insulation 2-4 feet, pulling up soaked carpets, and piling up saturated furnishings and belongings in a trash heap on our driveway, were only the first steps. Spraying our tile and concrete floors with Concrobium to remove and prevent mold; then drying out our home with commercial dehumidifiers followed.
Navigating the complexities of the insurance company’s requirements and processes was an interesting journey. I wish I had taken an inventory of all the items in our home beforehand, making sure to record the purchase date and price. Just that would have put us a step ahead. Then discovering building materials were scarce, and finding someone to help was almost non-existent. Yet, we were the lucky ones.
The illusion that FEMA swoops in and takes care of everything is misleading. The process of obtaining funding or loans can be arduous. Several people in our community were denied funding to rebuild. One neighbor in particular, who had flood insurance, was shocked when told it didn’t cover their ground level. Since this was the only part of the home that flooded, they applied for FEMA funds, but were denied. FEMA recommended they apply for an SBA loan. They were able to obtain a small loan which they will be paying back for the next thirty years. This neighbor told me, if anyone is denied by FEMA or the SBA, be diligent and insistent when seeking answers. It is possible the application was not completed correctly or lost in the process. (see Reasons Why FEMA May Have Found You Ineligible)
What helped us through the process were our wonderful, generous neighbors. Our community helped our family get through the rebuilding process by not only giving us a place to live as we ripped out, cleaned out, dried out, and restored our home. They fed us, watched over our property, and provided us with what they could, standing by us as we went through the process. In turn, the incredible skills my husband has developed through his trade as a carpenter over the last forty years was invaluable to us and our neighbors who also needed help restoring their homes.
Our community kept us updated on all fronts. Coordination and understanding of what our community was already doing to clear debris, open roads, restore power, etc. was invaluable. Our gratitude for the many workers who came from near and far to restore power, supply gas, food, basic needs, and pump the water off the island to make the roads passable, still fills me with great appreciation. Together our community rallied to clean up our neighborhoods, the beach, and help outer communities as we stood side by side working together.
My long desire to visit Asheville and see the beauty of western North Carolina was something my husband and I planned for our 40th wedding anniversary which was two years ago (2022). Unfortunately, our plans were disrupted due to an unexpected illness. Asheville was once again on my radar as we made arrangements to attend the family event in Charlotte. I thought perhaps we could extend our trip and go to Asheville for a few days. When I presented the idea to my husband, he intuitively replied he’d rather we plan a trip instead of putting it together at the last minute. So, my longing to see Asheville will have to wait. When I do go, even if the serene beauty has been marred and scars still remain, I hope to see a thriving, close-knit community still enjoying the beauty that surrounds them.
“I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.
“And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.” (Mosiah 4:26-27)
Resources and How You Can Help:
- FEMA: Myth vs. Fact: Disaster Assistance; 4 Ways to Help Hurricane Helene Survivors; Wind Damage Versus Floodwater Damage: What You Need to Know When Filing a Claim
- SBA Disaster Assistance – Low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters.
- What Insurance Does & Does Not Cover: Forbes Advisor-Flood Insurance: What It Is And What It Covers; NerdWallet-Complete Guide to Hurricane Insurance; Consumer Report-What Flood Insurance Does and Does Not Cover
- Cleaning Up After A Flood: Consumer Report – How to Clean Your Home After a Flood; CDC-Guidelines for Cleaning Safely After a Disaster; FEMA-Returning Home After a Flood
- How Can I Help: org; RedCross.org – Donate, Give Blood, Volunteer; USA Today List-What are some organizations I can donate to help?
- Practical Tips for Helping After Helene and Milton by Carolyn Nicolaysen
- org
- Church’s Humanitarian Fund
Donna ThigpenOctober 13, 2024
Loved the story. I worked the crisis line some but my computer crashed fairly frequently. They even let you know if someone who contacted you was assisted. Also appreciate the listings and information at the end of the story. Great info. Thanks for your writing and all it has taught me and the inspiration it has given.