In the wake of a tropical storm that devastated parts of North Carolina, the community is grappling with catastrophic flooding that has claimed numerous lives and left many others unaccounted for. The storm has deeply affected families as they begin to assess their losses.
Nancy Berry, 77, lost her family’s treasured mountain home in Boone after over 40 years of creating memories there. The storm surge from Hurricane Helene swept away her possessions in just hours.
Desperate to preserve her family’s history, Ms. Berry clings to what remains—her son’s death certificate among the few items she managed to salvage. “I’ve got to protect my family’s history. A lot of it is lost though,” she expressed.
Thanks to her great-niece, who bravely waded through the floodwaters, Ms. Berry was saved from the rising deluge that engulfed her neighborhood. “I’m coming, I’m coming!” she shouted in response to her great-niece’s urging to escape. She managed to save her purse while her great-niece guided her to safety.
As the floodwaters rose, other residents on her street also faced peril, with many requiring boat rescues. Boone, a quaint mountain town of about 20,000 residents, is characterized by its scenic landscape but also marked by vulnerability to severe weather.
Local reports indicate at least two fatalities in Watauga County, with the power of nature claiming more lives across the region. Western North Carolina—distanced from oceanic influences—continues to experience the effects of severe storms, as noted by climate experts.
While efforts are underway to provide aid, frustration mounts as many residents believe that volunteers have shouldered most of the rescue operations. “We were cut off from the outside world for about three days,” noted Kennie McFee, fire chief of Green Valley, emphasizing the reliance on community support during the disaster.
Emergency shelters have been established to assist the storm-affected communities, but remote areas remain isolated due to the rugged terrain, complicating recovery efforts. Seemingly cut off from help, an anonymous Green Valley resident recounted her struggle with no power or communication five days after the storm.
Nicole Rojas, a newcomer to the mountainous region, reflected on her off-grid lifestyle and the challenges presented by the storm. With limited access due to downed trees, she and her roommates prepared for an extended period without power.
Emotionally impacted by the trauma, Ms. Rojas shared stories of neighbors whose homes were swept away entirely, leaving many to feel they had survived an apocalypse.
