Dispatches from Western North Carolina: Post-Hurricane Helene
Marcia
On Friday, September 28th the raging flood waters from Hurricane Helene broke over the banks of the Ivy Creek flooding Marcia’s farm and trapping her in the second floor apartment above her barn.
Marcia's neighbor Steve watched from his window as he became desperate in thinking that he was about to watch her house float away. He described it as a nightmare from which he could wake up.
Meanwhile in her house, Marcia sat in her rocking chair as a peace fell over her. She told the flood this was not how she was going to die. The fact that she survived is nothing short of a miracle. She lost her goats, her donkey, and her kitty in the flood. Extreme grief was met with an outpouring of love and support. This film is a breif window into her world three weeks after Hurricane Helene.
Marshall, North Carolina
Ten days after the flood, I came down into the town of Marshall. I needed to hear from my friends there, to see them and hold them. I brought a small film kit along and began documenting what I saw. I interviewed business owners and volunteers who had been working tirelessly to clean up, pouring their energy into reshaping both the physical space and their own resolve to rebuild this magical town they call home. They spoke of their harrowing experiences during the storm, the grief they felt and still carry, and the deep, powerful drive to rise up again. It didn’t take long for the town’s energy to transform, shifting to a spirit of productivity, as if recreating the timeless story of a phoenix emerging from the ashes.
Thank you for sharing your words:
Josh Copus, Donna Ray Norton, Joel Friedman, Sheila Kay Adams, Morgen Yeakley
This just scratches the surface here but it’s a start. Stay strong y’all!
BeLoved Asheville
Another dispatch from Western North Carolina. A day spent with BeLoved Asheville. These are more stoires and words of wisdom from the people who are here, right now, experiencing this. This is what it looks like when you hear about communities coming together to help one another.
“10 people who care do more than 1000 people who hate” - Ponkho Bermejo
Please continue supporting BeLoved and their mission as it transforms from dealing with destruction to reconstruction.
