As most of you know by now, Western North Carolina (WNC) was severely impacted by Hurricane Helene during late September 2024, primarily in its western Appalachian Mountain region, causing an unknown number of deaths and significant destruction of infrastructure and residential areas across a vast swath of the state. Around 31 inches (78 cm) of rain were dumped in about a 24-hour period, which funneled into streams and rivers in the mountains, carrying away homes, vehicles, people, animals, roads, bridges, land, and trees. Hundreds of bridges and roads are still impassable. Part of Interstate highway 40 was destroyed, as well as many secondary roads. Some creeks went from six feet wide to 90 feet wide, and some rivers went from 40 feet wide to 450 feet wide. In some places the water became as much as 40 feet deep.
The area affected by flooding and mudslides in WNC extends across hundreds of square miles. While official reports are citing a death toll of 100-200 people, rescue workers on the ground have said that those numbers are "laughable". In one lake alone, authorities found 70 corpses before they stopped counting. At a hospital in Asheville on the first day, there were 900 or more corpses waiting to be identified. Whole families have been killed and whole towns and villages have been completely wiped off the map. Businesses and homes are destroyed. Many people are still considered missing, so they have not been counted as dead, but the actual death toll is probably closer to 2,000 or more (locals say "thousands" are dead), since this region was home to about 1,149,405 people (
link). Reportedly thousands of body bags are being brought in. One local man there reported that thousands of buzzards are circling overhead in the evenings. The area looks like an apocalyptic wasteland of total devastation. It is worse than a war zone, according to a retired Army General who visited the region. It will take years to recover and rebuild, and some parts may never recover. Many who survived are still without homes and jobs, living in tents or cars, trying to survive, as cold weather begins to set in.
The government has not been much help and has mostly pulled out, saying they did not have enough funds. So it is mainly the Church folks, the Amish, and Christian ministries that are still there helping the communities recover, along with some compassionate militia men. Private individuals and groups have come from all over the country to help with the initial rescue and the subsequent continuing relief and recovery. If you are interested in helping, please see the
Home page for various opportunities to do so.
There have also been many countless reports of miraculous survival, miraculous provision, heroism of rescuers, and even apparent angelic assistance. Praise the Lord! You can read and watch videos about these online (eg.,
here). Please remember the mountain people of WNC in your prayers.
Attribution notice: Image of WNC flooding copyright Associated Press, used per the Fair Use Act for commentary purposes only.
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