Hurricane Helene’s devastation is seen across 25 counties in Western North Carolina. But the destruction is not the same across the region.
How families, homes, and businesses were hurt by the storm are different across the street or just over the ridge in some places.
Local author Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle reflected on these fears in an essay published in the Atlantic titled,” My Friend was in the Valley.”
“I was talking about the fact that I had had experience with the flooding in Kentucky. So I knew how fast those waters could come and the amount of damage they could cause for a place like Dillsboro and trying to convey that to someone who hasn't been through it and convince them. They do need to leave,” Clapsaddle said.
Clapsaddle spoke to BPR just about two weeks ago about her experience of a thousand-year flood in 2022 that devastated eastern Kentucky, killing 45 and leaving thousands homeless.
Clapsaddle is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee. Power outages and lack of cell service have continued on the Qualla Boundary but when it comes to loss from flooding Clapsaddle mostly feels lucky.
“I think all of us are probably still in a little bit of a state of shock. In our lifetimes, we haven't seen this much devastation in the mountains of North Carolina. And so widespread and we're still learning every day exactly what happened because we've been cut off from Wi-Fi or cell service for most of this until just very recently. We're getting service back. So we're just now trying to come to grips with such an enormous natural disaster happening here,” Clapsaddle said.
On Wednesday, she spent the day helping clean up Darnell Farm in Swain County, which was flooded during the storm. Volunteers at the farm boxed up produce from its store to be taken to Haywood and Buncombe counties.
“As Appalachian people, we have a long history of protecting this land and caring for and being stewards of it,” she said. “We're in the middle of an election season and so can put that aside to help each other.”
Find out more information about accessing food from Darnell Farm here.
