Hurricane At High Altitude

 Wendall-- every other Thursday

I was born in western North Carolina. My parents both went to college there—that’s where they met. 

 

View of North Carolina mountains from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

That's mini-me on the far right with my parents and grandparents at a "viewing spot" on the Parkway.

My father’s oldest brother was part of the WPA project that built the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

 

Construction of the Parkway was part of FDR's New Deal.

When we were kids, half of our vacations away were spent at a series of motels somewhere along that Parkway. We loved Tweetsie Railroad and spent time in Blowing Rock and Cherokee and Asheville. 

 

We took so many rides on this railway attraction.

And watched the faux gunfights in the town.

Then we'd head back to play in the pool in one of the many motels nearby.

My aunt and uncle raised their family in Morganton and many of their children still live there.

 

Downtown Morganton

 

One of my cousins attended Appalachian State University in Boone. Another was a professor there for almost 40 years. 

 

Looking back at Boone, home to Appalachian State University.

 

Another cousin and her family live in Grandfather Mountain. One of the last photos of me and my father was taken on her deck.

 

Me and my Dad at Grandfather Mountain.

 

Currently, my brother and his family, as well as my stepmother, live in southeastern Tennessee, just over the NC border.

 

So my ties to the region are lifelong and strong.

 

Although natural disasters can and do happen anywhere, the shock of a hurricane taking out entire towns and hunks of vital highways at this altitude and so far inland is profound.

 

Asheville, a city of almost 100,000 people, with a vital and thriving arts community, is one of the jewels of the region. Its River Arts District is full of crafts, wineries, and galleries. The area is also home to the Biltmore Estate and Biltmore Village, conceived by Frederick Olmstead and completed in 1905. 

 

Part of the River Arts District.

 

The area is full of murals.

Biltmore Village, completed in 1905.

Both of these areas experienced catastrophic flooding over the weekend.

 

River Arts District on September 28.

Biltmore Village on September 28.

 

And so many roads and bridges are closed or gone that as of this weekend, no one could get in or out of Asheville. 

 

 

Every road or highway in and out of Asheville is closed.

Just one of the major highways.

 

Many smaller towns, like Chimney Rock, are just gone.

 

So many people there have lost absolutely everything, so I wanted to post a link to a list on the region’s NPR site to organizations that are sending aid, in case anyone wants to help or donate.

 

https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-09-28/list-ways-to-donate-and-help-flood-victims-in-western-north-carolina-after-hurricane-helene

 

--Wendall