Nearly a month after Hurricane Helene swept through the Southeast, devastating homes and claiming the lives of over 250 people, many residents in North Carolina are still living in tents where their homes once stood.
As temperatures drop into the 30s at night, people like Kris Weil are trying to survive in makeshift shelters, reflecting the ongoing struggle faced by those hit hardest by the storm.
Kris Weil, who lives in Swannanoa, a town severely affected by the hurricane, Weill lost everything when the storm struck on September 27. Weil’s story is particularly miraculous.
His girlfriend, who was eight months pregnant, was rushed to the hospital with chest pains. Weil stayed behind to prepare for their baby. While preparing for the baby, Weil began receiving flood warnings on his phone. He soon found himself watching helplessly as floodwaters rapidly filled his neighborhood and surged into his home.
In a matter of moments, the house was swept off its foundation, and Weil, along with a friend and three dogs, was forced out through a back window by the rising waters.
As the floodwaters continued to rush through the area, Weil grabbed hold of a vine attached to a tree in his backyard with one hand, while clutching one of his dogs with the other.
For six hours, he and his friend waited for help. Finally, a rescue boat from Cook County, Illinois, arrived and transported them to safety.
Reflecting on the experience, Weil said, “If my girlfriend hadn’t been taken to the hospital, she would’ve been in that tree with me.” Thankfully, his girlfriend delivered a healthy baby girl, Sage Nevaeh, a few weeks ahead of her due date on October 20.
Though their lives were upended, Weil remains grateful for the support they’ve received from the community. “There have been miracles,” he said. “The churches, the community — they’ve been amazing.
They’ve made sure we’re not forgotten.” Volunteers donated tents, food, a bike, and even a camping stove with propane to Weil, helping him get by. Emerge Ministries, a local organization, even found someone to donate a car to Weil so that he can visit his girlfriend and newborn daughter.
Another resident who lives just a short distance from him, Dara Cody and her partner are also living in tents, where their home once stood on the banks of the Swannanoa River. Like Weil, Cody recalls the terrifying night when the storm hit.
She couldn’t sleep and found herself constantly checking the water level of the river behind her house. Around 5 a.m., she noticed that the water had risen dramatically in just 30 minutes. Alarmed, she woke her partner and told him they had to leave immediately.
Cody and her partner gathered what belongings they could and fled. When they returned the next day, their home had been completely washed away, leaving nothing but a patch of dirt.
“It was shock, pain, and heartbreak,” Cody recalled. “It was devastating, not just for me, but for the whole town. I’ve lived here my entire life, and to see it destroyed like this is beyond words.”
In the weeks following the hurricane, Cody has been trying to salvage what she can from the wreckage. Volunteers from Emerge Ministries have been helping her clean up and sort through the debris.
Like Weil, Cody and her partner have received vital support from the community, including food, supplies, and emotional encouragement. Cody is hopeful she may qualify for a tiny home, depending on local regulations.
The outpouring of support from volunteers has been overwhelming. Cody noted that strangers have done more for her than she ever could have imagined. “They’ve been more generous than we ever imagined. The love, compassion, and generosity have just blown our minds.”
Shannon Martin Easley and Judy Norris are two volunteers from Emerge Ministries who have been helping those affected by Hurricane Helene.
The organization has mobilized 50 to 150 volunteers from across the country to assist in relief efforts. Easley shared a story of her uncle clearing a driveway for a man who hadn’t seen another human in 20 days. “How many more people are out there like him?” she wondered.
Volunteers from other states have also joined the efforts. Martha Hershberger and her husband, Roy, from Ohio, have been serving hot meals under a tent in a parking lot along the main road in Swannanoa. Hershberger estimates that they’ve been serving between 1,500 and 2,000 meals a day.
She noted that the trauma of the hurricane is affecting everyone, whether they lost their homes or just power. “People here are going to need help for a long time,” she said.
Barbara Kaufman, a volunteer from Maryland, echoed that sentiment. She and others traveled to North Carolina to help with the cleanup, emphasizing that the residents need boots on the ground and hands to help. “These people shouldn’t be sleeping in tents,” Kaufman said.
The road to recovery will be long and difficult. Many people are still missing in North Carolina, and the damage from Hurricane Helene extends across seven states.
For residents of towns like Swannanoa, rebuilding their lives will take years. But the strength of community support, both local and from volunteers across the country, offers a glimmer of hope amid the devastation.
As the people of North Carolina begin to pick up the pieces of their lives, the resilience they’ve shown in the face of disaster is a testament to the power of community, compassion, and perseverance. Though they’ve lost their homes, they have not lost their will to rebuild and move forward, one day at a time.