Asheville, North Carolina, In The Wake of Helene
Vignettes Of A Catastrophe
Overnight September 29, Tropical Storm Helene hit Western North Carolina. Power, water, cell and internet connectivity were lost for days. These are some personal experiences of the first four days, until I left Asheville for a town 30 minutes away.
Awaking Friday morning to a power outage but no damage to the house: relief. Nearly 10 inches of rain had fallen, but it was a gentle rain now. The winds were strong but not gale force. I send texts to friends, and most report the same: no power, but we’re fine.
A tree has fallen, blocking the street, and trucks drive through a park to get around it. Why? There’s another way out of the neighborhood. I walk the dog and realize that trees are down everywhere, and power lines are down with them. No trees on houses that I see. But part of my small neighborhood is blocked in.
Chainsaws. Doug and I start to remove the downed maple nearest us. Soon four neighbors join the effort. I knew them only by waves, not by names until now: John, Fisher, Larry, Denzell. Together we clear the street, shake hands, promise help to each other as needed. Our neighbors can get out. It feels like a triumph. This is what recovery will look like.
