Publisher’s Note
“The waters were rushing in, and I prayed, ‘Lord, you said if I had faith the size of a mustard seed…’ and then I watched the waters recede,” said Larry. I met Larry almost nine weeks after the storm as he and his neighbors were still working to get warmth in their temporary housing.
The water did not recede quickly for most folks across western NC and Tennessee—and yet their faith was strong as well. But Nature didn’t knock; Helene came in uninvited and with a vengeance.
I am at a loss for words to describe the effects of Hurricane Helene this past September 27. My tears that continue to emerge make up for lost words. They seem to surface as soon as I hear of yet another story of destruction, survival and hope.
When I consider the countless ways locals, business owners and people from all over the country came together—and continue to travel to our area to help—I will forever be in awe. There are not sufficient ways to express thanks for all they have done and continue to do.
A dear friend and business owner shared her new word she wants put into Webster’s Dictionary: “enoughness.”
There is not “enoughness” to do what we all want to do to help others and sort out our own lives amidst this event we lived through. All of us who call these mountains “home” never imagined that a Hurricane could have brought so much devastation to our area. Prepare? Candles, water for flushing, generators, and non-perishable foods ready for eating—all those efforts quadrupled could never have prepared us for this storm.
Literally days after the storm when Banner Elk lost all water, sewer and power, the Town’s management turned the Historic Banner Elk School (the location of the CML office) into one of the most well-run distribution centers, offering relief to thousands of neighbors who needed help and comfort. Thanks to Nancy and Rick Owen and their incredible team for over two months of service.
It was surreal to walk out of our office to the hallway and see a wall of diapers and baby formula; and across the hallway, at the Banner Elk Book Exchange, FEMA agents spoke with people about emergency aid.
My husband, Tom, the Sugar Mountain Golf director, was gearing up for the final month of the golf season at Sugar Mountain when Helene struck and literally swept away sections of greens and fairways and left gigantic pines on the course and cart paths.
The Sugar Mountain Golf & Tennis Pro Shop and the CaddyShack became a makeshift free Medical Clinic operated by a team of volunteers led by Dr. Sherry O’Donnell, The Heartbeat Mission Clinic. They offered more than medical assistance—their presence, support and prayers were so healing for hundreds of folks.
The Heartbeat Mission Clinic was just one of countless operations that popped up to offer some relief, and many to this day are still serving the community. It has been amazing to watch these beautifully orchestrated efforts toward recovery.
The accounts of bridges washed away or compromised, and then stories of bridges being rebuilt, and relationships being forged through the devastation, will continue to be the hallmark silver lining to Helene. Beneath the mud and rubble our precious earth cried, and yet pure white snow falls this season, reminding us of cleansing and renewal.
We witnessed our fabled Woolly Worm Festival highlight a small event to honor our first responders and electrical linemen. The loss of the Woolly Worm Festival and Valle Country Fair for charity fundraising will be sorely missed. I know we also missed enjoying Oktoberfest and other festivals—but know that next year our calendars will be marked for these and so many other events.
We all share in the grief and the hope because that is the fabric of who we are—“Mountain Strong” resilient people. We will move forward and continue to celebrate each other’s milestones and successes, doing so to also honor those who have lost so much.
For me, the feelings I experienced for the first two months following the storm could best be described as stark, raw, surreal, exhausting, sad, and almost numbing. Yet, monumental acts of love, hope, grace, resilience, and tenacity softened the blow.
Along the way, I have met folks who needed help, but said, “There are others in worse condition.” The folks in this area are truly Mountain Strong.
The needs of families and individuals will go on for months and months. And so will the stories of neighbors, church groups and organizations helping each other in the aftermath of one of the worst natural disasters in our history.
But what Helene didn’t do was sweep away the grit and fortitude of our mountain people.
We are putting out this winter issue in the hopes that you will take us with you. That you will read the stories, visit our advertisers and remember that shopping, dining, playing and staying local is more important than ever for our communities.
While we welcome visitors and celebrate the winter season and all that it has to offer, we remain diligent in our continued support of recovery. We hope you will let us know what amazing treasures you found at a local shop, or challenging hikes you took, or how the wonders of our mountains made for a memorable stay, or served as a reminder of why you live here year-round.
We hope the warmth of the hot cocoa and soft blankets on our cover gives readers a sense of comfort. To all the people who have lost loved ones, homes and businesses, our prayers are with you—we want to continue to hear your stories, so please reach out to us.
And to all who have made a difference in this recovery effort, and who continue to help in the coming months and years, we offer a toast. We are forever grateful.
~ Babette