By Vance Perkins
On Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, the remnants of Hurricane Helene caused a widespread deluge of rain to fall on western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee.
The rain gauges measured anywhere from 13 inches up to 30 inches during a 24-hour period. The week before torrential amounts of rainfall had saturated the ground. The additional rainfall on the 27th caused the mountain tops to begin sliding down the mountain sides. Mudslides and flash floods caused waterways to exceed flood stages dramatically and quickly. Some locations exceeded previous flood crests by more than 10 feet.
The damage caused by the flashfloods and mudslides is almost beyond comprehension. Not only have private homes been destroyed, the land has been reshaped. Massive damage to public infrastructure is widespread. Pavement and road beds washed away. Bridges are completely gone or impassable due to damages. Water lines and sewer lines have been exposed and damaged. Commercial and business buildings damaged beyond repair.
It is now three months later. Some progress is being made in the restoration of public infrastructure but complete repairs will be years away. It will take major reconstruction projects to rebuild roads and bridges. These are difficult and expensive on flat ground. In the eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina areas the elevation and slope of the land only add expense and complexity to the repairs.
People have lost everything, vehicles, houses, possessions, all was swept away by mud and water. The loss of all physical things only compounds the emotional distress that locals are dealing with. There are still many people unaccounted for. Many bodies are unidentified. Governmental red tape prevents many from receiving needed help. Insurance companies deny coverage on technicalities and delay payments to the insured. Postal services have been disrupted because post office buildings are damaged, roads are impassable and mail can’t be delivered. Internet and electrical service has been disrupted.
Many people and groups have donated and delivered needed supplies to those impacted by the storm. Many have volunteered to work in the storm damaged areas by helping locals clean and repair their houses. Some are working with organizations to cook and deliver food to victims.
I am grateful that we live in an area where people care. I am aware of three individuals that have been involved in the relief efforts. Here in DeQuincy, Honda Brown and a few of her friends took supplies to eastern Tennessee in October and spent several days there working with locals to clean and make repairs to houses and places of business.
Missy Adams of the Longville/Ragley area was involved in hauling supplies and spending time in North Carolina working in supply distribution centers and cooking meals for those displaced and for volunteer workers.
Janet Ashworth of DeQuincy hauled donated supplies to North Carolina in October. She also collected and hauled a load of supplies and Christmas gifts to the area last week. Because her trailer was full and the bed of her truck was filled also, I tagged along with the truck bed of my brother’s truck loaded down with the overflow.
These ladies along with all who helped them and those who donated goods and money do not seek recognition. They are only expressing God’s love and being the hands and feet of Jesus as they try to help the storm victims. Thank you, SW Louisiana, for your generosity. The people of Tennessee and North Carolina are appreciative of your time, talents and gifts.
