Hurricane Helene Brings Epic Destruction in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Photos courtesy by Jaimee Taylor
“Everything along the river is gone, what was once a town is now a river. It’s beyond anything I can imagine”
Hurricane Helene roared ashore on the gulf coast of Florida Thursday evening, September 26, wiping out the small fishing village of Steinhatchee before continuing its 600-mile northwesterly trek through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The Cat 4 storm brought 140 M.P.H. winds and dumped over 40 trillion gallons of rain in its wake.
With already burgeoning mountain streams and rivers from a slow-moving storm over southern Appalachia days before, the epic amount of rainfall from the hurricane has caused unimaginable damage in the Blue Ridge Mountains and foothills—particularly in western NC and eastern TN, as muddy waters rushed down elevated terrain and into towns, villages and resort areas. Some of the hardest hit areas, such as Asheville, NC, have seen neighboring towns completely flattened, leaving people stranded and unable to get food, water, or medical assistance. Millions of people are without power and water, and communications are nearly non-existent due to the loss of cell towers. Over 125 people have lost their lives so far, and many more remain missing or unreachable until communications can be restored.
Many towns, now isolated after bridges and roads have been wiped out, require aid to be delivered by drones, helicopters, and even pack mules. Please pray for the people who have been affected by this devastating event, those who are out on search and rescue missions, the teams of people who are either on their way to lend aid or are organizing volunteers and supplies. Currently, Pastor Ben Lawson of Calvary Chapel of the Sandhills in Aberdeen, NC, is coordinating relief materials to be delivered to Asheville, NC. Calvary Chapel Greenville, TN, is also organizing resources to help those in their community, also without power and water. Pastor Greg Hill encouraged his Greenville congregation Sunday with Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
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