More than 100 people are dead, and hundreds are still missing after Helene’s havoc in multiple states.
Western North Carolina saw some of the worst damage in its state.
Hurricane Helene was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it hit the region, but the aftermath was brutal.
Alum Storm Favara recounted the moments she saw devastating images and videos of the flooding.
“To see [homes/ businesses] get just wiped away just like that, and just people losing their lives over it, it just really breaks my heart,” said Favara.
She lives in Shelby, halfway between Asheville and Charlotte.
“It all started on Friday morning, we got hit with the storm and instantly power was out like first thing like six in the morning.”
She and her loved ones experienced heavy rain and intense winds, getting their internet back by Sunday night.
“If you drive around the city or Shelby, a lot of trees everywhere, powerlines are down, loose wires, a lot of roads are closed,” said Favara.
“A lot of the lakes are overflooding into the roads. It’s really chaotic– it kind of looks like a war zone.”
President Joe Biden said more than 600 people were unaccounted for across six states (Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, South and North Carolina) hit by Helene.
More than 100 people were reported dead, with the numbers still expected to climb.
fromHendersonville, said she is now safe and sound in South Carolina with family after her home and community was flooded.
“I woke up and there was water coming in my house and I sat up and looked at my back window,” said Foster.
“You would think my house was in the middle of the Ocean with how much water was going by,” said Foster.
They received warnings about flooding but did not expect this.
“We were preparing for a little bit of flooding because of the rivers and lakes and the fact that we’re in a valley that does happen,” said Foster.
“But nothing that would include any kind of home damage, loss of life, it all just happened so fast.”
Former WCU Catamount Stephan Pruitt also caught the sights and sounds of the disaster.
His family founded the town of Burnsville, six generations ago. It’s less than an hour north of Asheville.
His home was spared, but his studio in the River Arts District was not.
“I haven’t been able to get anywhere close to seeing what the status of my equipment is,” said Pruitt.
Thankfully it’s just my editing equipment and my studio equipment, my camera gear, and all that’s fine.”
He owns FIASCO Media, a film, image, and sound media company.
He used his drone to get incredible shots of the heart-wrenching havoc Helene caused.
“It’s been so hard to see, like staples of Asheville just gone, and people’s houses you know,” said Pruitt.
“That was the first thing I noticed during the Cruso flooding…is what a house looks like when the flood goes through…it turns into like sticks.”
Both Pruitt and Foster ask people to donate to reputable sources like the American Red Cross and local, established non-profits.
Western North Carolina saw some of the worst damage in its state.
Hurricane Helene was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it hit the region, but the aftermath was brutal.
Alum Storm Favara recounted the moments she saw devastating images and videos of the flooding.
