On September 24, 2024, what is now known as Hurricane Helene, formed in the Gulf of Mexico. This tropical storm would soon become the deadliest mainland hurricane since Katrina. Helene made landfall on late September 26, causing storm surges up to 19 feet tall in Florida, and leaving nearly 4 million people without power.
After landfall, it only took one day to reach the western part of North Carolina, thus also hitting eastern Tennessee. While it wasn’t even on land at that point, Helene was felt throughout the mountains days in advance. A student living in Cullowhee stated, “It had been raining since Tuesday [September 24]… the flooding had already started by the time Helene hit us.” This student further added that because of the timing, there was “no real warning for us. We knew there was a storm, but nobody told us the extent of it.”
Amelia Smith, a senior at North Buncombe High School, said “it didn’t feel real.” When asked what her first reaction was to the damage done, Smith responded “I was so in awe, normally, people move to the mountains to escape stuff like this.” She also mentioned worries about her friend’s and family’s safety, as there was no way to get in contact with anyone. Prior to Hurricane Helene, Smith was celebrating North Buncombe’s Spirit Week, in preparation for Homecoming. Due to Helene, all events were postponed. Sport practice and all other extracurricular activities were also postponed, causing Smith to worry about the future of her athletics. “It feels unfair because no one else has to deal with the setbacks every athlete and student up here has to face.” Smith also wants people to know: “It is so much worse than anything you are seeing online but everyone is super grateful for the donations and help.”
This catastrophe has left people without homes to return to, and many with missing loved ones. Emilia Jones, college student attending Appalachian State University, said “I felt so much guilt knowing that where I lived was fine [compared to other places] but there are people who had their home taken away from them.”
What happened in Western North Carolina is a tragedy affecting many. With homes, national parks, and communities being torn, donations are crucial. Please consider reaching out to local organizations to lend a hand.
