It's been a week!!! Our mountains and their residents have been devastated going into what would be peak tourist season. It's hard to feel excited about anything right now.
The Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure and overflowed a town with debris from Chimney Rock, NC. after heavy rains from Hurricane Helene. Approximately six feet of debris piled on the bridge from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, blocking access. Photo Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty
But I'm trying to do what I can to help our state, using my Ford Transit Connect and taking supplies to Charlotte to be flown into inaccessible areas where the roads are gone. There's a great need for chainsaws. If you have one to donate, bring it by the studio, and I'll take it to Ashe County. Naturally, I was worried about all the new friends I made in June, and I am happy and relieved to report they are safe. The main house and the tiny one are good. The water rose twenty feet, destroying their cars and flooding the basement, ruining everything stored there and filling it with mud. I'm sure there's a need for shovels, too.
Men inspect flood damage in Biltmore Village, Asheville, NC on September 28, 2024 Photo Sean Rayford/Getty
That's my focus for this week. The hurricane tamped down the joy of the music festival; musicians who came from the mountains couldn't go home, and the ones scheduled for the weekend couldn't get here.
Helene's heavy rains caused record flooding and damage in Asheville, NC on September 28th, 2024. Photo Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty