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A witness in WNC to Helene’s impact


Scenes of total devastation at Lake Summit, North Carolina. IMAGE PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR
 

Editor’s Note:  This report contains information about the ways in which readers may help the residents of the Upstate and Western North Carolina recover from the devastating impact of Helene.

 

By Missy Craver Izard

 

At 6:30 a.m. Friday morning, Flat Rock and all of us in Western North Carolina were in the tempestuous grasp of Hurricane Helene as her rains and winds relentlessly pounded on our mountain homes. A front that began two days earlier merged with the hurricane into catastrophic conditions that would forever change the landscape of our village, the little Charleston of the mountains. 

As the storm raged on, I began to hear the thunder of crashing trees and retreated to the basement level of my home. I was terrified. In the dark of the storm trees fell everywhere leaving an enormous path of destruction and wiping communities of power lines and electricity.

WNC was so unprepared for the devastation that occurred from this storm. Unlike Charleston, which is accustomed to the Hurricane preparedness drill, WNC is not — evacuations (if any) began within the storm when few could escape. Rivers, streams and lakes rose high above normal levels flooding areas with a vengeance. From West Asheville my son reported that the swollen French Broad and Swannanoa rivers had wiped out areas of this historic and beautiful mountain city — the River Arts District is gone. My cousin and friends frantically evacuated Lake Lure after warnings that the dam might fail. Chimney Rock completely washed away while rescue workers worked relentlessly to save lives.

My beloved Lake Summit experienced water levels and flooding beyond anything seen in the past. Single level boathouses were totally submerged; others had water reach the second floor. Boats that were thought to be securely stored inside the boathouses rose with the water and were tossed about inside, crashing windshields and completely destroying the boats (and in some instances, the boathouses). Two young men were riding around in a pickup truck with chainsaws the lake offering to help with downed trees — a reminder that good people are still out there. 


Lake Summit, NC. IMAGE PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR
 

When Hugo hit Charleston in 1989 as a category 4 hurricane, the trauma of the storm’s impact caused the Scouts in all of us to sprang into action. We learned to be resourceful in the midst of the chaos as generators and chainsaws — the all too familiar sounds of a hurricane’s clean up became part of our existence. On Saturday morning, I woke to that familiar sound once again and memories of those long days after Hugo. I lay in bed praying for stamina and perseverance for all. Last night I walked outside and sat on my porch. There’s something about a vast sky with brilliant stars and a bit of moon that spins life back into proportion and soothes the soul. 

The aftermath of Helene will be long and hard. Prayer and courage will be greatly needed. Being a patient listener will truly have meaning as people share the tragedies they have experienced and face the challenges ahead. We will survive. 

 

Missy Craver Izard was born and raised in Charleston, S.C. and resides in Flat Rock, North Carolina. A retired summer camp director and art teacher, Missy is an entrepreneur, speaker, author, journalist, community leader and the recipient of several awards, including the White House Champions of Change.

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