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WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA – In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, there are conflicting reports about disaster response and relief efforts, particularly in Western North Carolina.
One former Ohio Valley resident who has lived in North Carolina since 1998 spoke exclusively to River News Network about her experience following the hurricane. She attended high school and college in St. Clairsville.
She is now a social worker and works on the front lines of the relief effort in a shelter housing nearly 100 people displaced by the storm. Due to the nature of her work, she asked to remain anonymous.
The storm was not predicted to have a major impact
She says the devastation in her area is much worse that what the national media is reporting. She also says Hurricane Helene was not predicted to have a major impact there. The initial storm hit North Carolina Sept. 25 but she says the Sept. 25 weather forecast said there were no tropical storm watches or warnings. Only strong winds and flash flooding with just 8 to 10 inches of rain were predicted over the following days. The actual hurricane hit the evening of the 26th and into the morning of the 27th. The forecast proved terribly incorrect and the actual weather deadly.
Our area received 15 inches plus of rain the night of September 25 and into the morning of September 26. By 8 a.m. on the 26th, we had flash flooding in my immediate area which had come across interstate 64, so I was unable to get to work on my normal route.
By 10 that morning, we had to open up the shelter due to a 55+ RV/mobile home park being evacuated for flash flooding.
Former St. Clairsville, Ohio resident and current North Carolina social worker
The former Ohio Valley resident says North Carolina has experienced heavy rainfall from prior hurricanes, especially ones that come up from the Gulf of Mexico but the majority have turned more toward the coast and didn’t hit the mountains head-on like Hurricane Helene did. Many large trees, some more than 100-years-old, were felled by the storm. Roadways crumbled into sink holes and the rain seemed like it would never end.
I have never witnessed flooding in my area like this in all my time in North carolina. We are in the mountains of North carolina and most areas are at least 2,500 feet above sea level, so we have never really been concerned about hurricanes since we are so far from the ocean.
Former St. Clairsville, Ohio resident and current North Carolina social worker
Local law enforcement, churches and citizens were first to help
After the hurricane, she says the most immediate rescue response came from local law enforcement, emergency management and local water rescue. Churches and private citizens are providing supplies to storm victims.
Bottled water was being brought into the area from churches and organizations from all over. Private planes and helicopters were being used to bring in supplies to areas where roads have been washed away. Food is still challenging and entire sections of grocery stores are empty.
Former St. Clairsville, Ohio resident and current North Carolina social worker
FEMA arrived five days after the storm
FEMA was not on scene until after September 30, five days after the storm, she says.
She said the help FEMA did provide was not very effective. For instance, FEMA provided vouchers for temporary housing at hotels, but people had to travel 5 to 6 hours to find a hotel that would accept the government vouchers. The vouchers are only good for 30 days, so she wonders what will happen when the vouchers expire and people have no place to return to. She predicts it will take years for North Carolina to recover, saying the level of devastation is “beyond explanation.”
She said federal cash and food stamp benefits will be available, but take time to reach families due to processing times. FEMA disaster unemployment pays 50% of lost wages and each family in affected areas may be eligible for another $750 from FEMA. Storm victims can apply for D-SNAP (disaster food stamps) starting October 18, she says.
The American Red Cross response was “embarrassing”
She strongly criticized the American Red Cross, calling their response embarrassing, and urged people not to donate to them, saying money needs to go to the local communities in need, not to national groups.
I have been embarrassed by how the Red Cross has handled this situation as well as how they have handled the shelters since they took over.
Throwing away perfectly good in date non-perishable items that could have been handed out to community members who went without food.
Closing down shelters and having local funds used to put people into hotels.
Sending away clothing donations when people were being helicoptered in wearing wet, Mud-covered clothing.
Former St. Clairsville, Ohio resident and current North Carolina social worker
She said victims arrived at her shelter after not having eaten in days and shelter staff had no clothing or towels for them. She says the Red Cross told staff that they aren’t required to provide showers for victims until five days after a disaster. She says when they finally set up shower facilities, the Red Cross did not even provide basic items and adults had to resort to sharing hand towels to dry off with since no full-size towels were available.
The Red Cross typically sends support staff into the emergency shelters around 72 hours after a disaster, and they came to the shelter on September 30 but did not immediately take over operations, she says.
Local radio stations manned the airwaves and cash was king
There was a total communication breakdown following Hurricane Helene, she says. Internet and cell phone service was down and is still unreliable. People turned to their local radio stations for news and updates. Gasoline was in short supply and cash was king in the stores that did have supplies to sell.
Former St. Clairsville, Ohio resident and current North Carolina social workerGasoline was difficult to obtain to run generators, for those lucky enough to have one, so people had to use their limited gasoline sparingly. With major roadways blocked or washed out, supply chain issues were out of hand.
Most stores and gas stations were cash only for several days, so if you didn’t have cash, you couldn’t get food or gas.
No one had any way to get information, so those who still had radios were able to get updates from local radio stations.
Medical supplies and food remain in short supply.
We have a severe shortage of IV fluids. Shelves are sparse at the grocery stores. It took over 10 days for packages to start being delivered again.
Former St. Clairsville, Ohio resident and current North Carolina social worker
Turning the disaster into a political issue is “ridiculous”
While people scrambled to survive, politicians weighed in. Turning the hurricane into a political issue is “ridiculous” and takes the spotlight away from the storm victims who are in desperate need of help, she says.
Also, the biggest issue has been that this has turned into a “political issue” seeing as how North Carolina is one of the supposed “swing states”. The ridiculous spewing of politicians and their local supporters as well as complete lack of understanding of FEMA processing has stolen the spotlight of the catastrophic flooding and devastation.
Former St. Clairsville, Ohio resident and current North Carolina social worker
She says polling stations are open now and early voting is underway. Banks and post offices have also reopened.
The actual death toll may never be known and bodies may never be recovered
The St. Clairsville native lost a friend due to the storm.
Former St. Clairsville, Ohio resident and current North Carolina social workerI lost a former coworker and friend to a landslide, and she had 10 more immediate family members killed by the same landslide.
More than 100,000 people in Henderson County, North Carolina were affected by the hurricane, she says. The death toll in the state is still unknown with many bodies that may never be recovered due to mud slides.
Former St. Clairsville, Ohio resident and current North Carolina social workerUnfortunately there seems to be some uncertainty in the actual number due to so many people who are believed to be missing. Henderson County shows as 7 deaths with 42 in Buncombe County.
I have heard it may be months until they can get official counts and with the catastrophic level of flooding and mud slides (something like 288 in Western North carolina.) there is a strong possibility that some may not be found.
Water may be contaminated
Power has been restored to most parts of the storm area, but some areas were without electricity for 17 days, even with linemen working non-stop. Water access remains a problem for some areas including Asheville which needs extensive water line repairs. She said many people in the area rely on well water, but they are concerned about contamination.
Most local roads are repaired and passable but Interstates 26 and 40 through Tennessee remain closed, she said. She added that the main roads going through Chimney Rock and Bat Cave, North Carolina were demolished and access to those areas is limited.
Some pets had to be euthanized, others drowned
Livestock and pets were also affected by the hurricane. Livestock was swept away in flood waters and local animal shelters are inundated with cats and dogs displaced by the storm. During the storm, one desperate woman who was away from her home turned to social media to beg for someone to rescue her dog, but no one could reach her home and the dog drowned in its crate. One animal was found with a broken back and was euthanized.
What does North Carolina need right now? How can I help?
Cold weather has arrived in the mountains of North Carolina with temperatures now dipping into the 30s, and the residents need warm coats and clothing. They also need sleeping bags and tents. Medical supplies including IVs are in short supply. There is also a need for dehumidifiers. air purifiers and mold treatment products, she says.
She recommends donating to the local North Carolina charities linked below:
Community Foundation of Henderson County
Boxer Butts & Other Mutts Dog Rescue
