In the Eye of the Storm: Life, Love, and Lessons from Hurricane Helene – When I think back on all the many articles I’ve written for this wonderful magazine, several of them have been regarding the topic of gratitude. Recently, this topic once again came front and center to me but in a much clearer and much more profound way.
From Victim to Survivor
I am a victim and now happy to say “survivor” of hurricane Helene which took dead-center aim on the exact location where I happen to live (Asheville NC.) This town is a magical place nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, between the infamous Blue Ridge Mountains and Smoky Mountains. We had already had days and days of solid rain before it even developed. As it turned out, what took place wasn’t just caused by Hurricane Helene coming up from Florida which is south of us, but another powerful storm system was coming down from the north at the exact same time. Where did they happen to meet the night of Sept 26? Right over the area of Asheville. We completely lost power 12 hours before and then that evening as it became pitch black, the torrential downfall of water mixed with the 90 mph winds began beating down buildings, trees, and everything in its path. With no basement to go to, I was hunkered down with my cat, covers over our head. and the sound of the rain and slashing wind against my windows was so loud it seemed deafening. Hour after hour it continued. The branches of bushes hit against the panes of glass so powerfully that I was absolutely sure the windows would break open not only washing us out into its torrential flood but shattering the window which would send shards of glass into our eyes. All I could do was curl into a ball with my head tucked down, hugging my cat to calm her. Then wait and pray.
After what seemed like a never-ending night, I woke up hours later with a bit of daylight peeping through the shades and saw the windows were so permanently marked by the huge water drops and scraping it was very hard to see anything outside. I was thrilled to see no water in my house and that my apartment had somehow withstood the torrential downfall and winds. SO grateful. I raised my arms to the sky and breathed.
Feeling Stuck, Powerless, YET So So Thankful
Still no power. No phone. No internet. I ventured outside to see if I could find another human being. The few people who had come out told me that we couldn’t leave the area as all roads had been washed out. Trees are down everywhere. The worst part was no communication. Shut off from the outside world not knowing anything. Feeling stuck. Powerless. YET just so so thankful to have my life, my home with my many musical instruments, and my cat all of which I treasure.
This area has been devastated in ways too severe and numerous to describe. Lives were lost, homes and businesses destroyed, and bodies, trees, and wreckage everywhere. The intensity of this storm also took out the pipelines of this town’s water supply. Destroyed. No running water anywhere in the area.
The carnage of all of this was and is very very real and infinite. But What I want to describe in this piece is what I have learned as the lesson to it all. Being able to witness first-hand the coming together of people not just here, but people from all across this country who came immediately to help. It took days for them to reach us as all roads were blocked or destroyed, but they came. From everywhere. And then the government help came with Apache rescue helicopters and cargo planes bringing bottled water and supplies. The Red Cross, even State Farm was out helping people on the spot to give financial relief. I met 2 guys who immediately upon hearing about the devastation, loaded their Toyota truck with baby supplies, canned goods, and water and drove from 5 states away to get here to help. They also brought a mobile hotspot supplied by Star-link so anyone who parked near them could contact their family for the first time. Lowes opened their entire parking lot and store so people could use their Wi-Fi system and they also brought in port-a-potties because as you might learn, if you lose your source of water, you can’t flush your toilets. Possibly for weeks.
Community: Neighbor Helping Neighbor
The amount of love caring and kindness showered on this community by neighbors helping neighbors and “strangers” from outside this state. still astounds me. What it has shown, and perhaps this is the message the universe wanted to leave us with; is that we are all put on this earth to take care of each other, no matter what we think our differences are. We are all one. Every being on this planet. One family. One community. One spirit. One love. And there is nothing more important than this.
Before I end, I feel it is important to share another vital lesson learned. Be SURE you are stocked and ready in case any kind of natural disaster befalls you. Canned goods. Portable radio. Water. Flashlights, batteries, and extra battery power supply to keep cell phones charged. This is just the tip of the iceberg. DON’T make the mistake of postponing obtaining these supplies. Do it now. They are your lifeline for survival.
Wishing everyone peace, health and safety.
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