Contributed photos
Above: A driveway blocked by tress had to be chainsawed through. Below: power lines are still damaged in Rutherford county, North Carolina.
Fallen trees, intense flooding, houses destroyed. Powerless and afraid, these are some of the things survivors in North Carolina saw as hurricane Helene struck.
“I was very upset and worried that people who I was unable to make contact with for several days were dead,” said Matilda Ziegler, a senior American history major from Shelby, North Carolina. “I keep seeing pictures and videos of places that I grew up around completely destroyed.”
As Helene ravaged the Appalachian mountains, Troy students from the area worried for their loved ones’ safety.
“My parents were without power for seven days, and multiple houses in their neighborhood were destroyed or partially destroyed by falling trees,” Ziegler said. “My best friend was without water or power for ten days, and without cell service for five.”
Ziegler is a Troy student who grew up in Cliffside, North Carolina, and currently lives in Shelby, North Carolina. She expressed the fear she went through as Helene terrorized her home.
“For those five days, I did not know if she was alive or dead,” Ziegler said. “She only got cell service for one hour that day and didn’t get full access for several more days.
“Her family had to chainsaw their way out of her driveway to go find food and water.”
Other students share a similar experience.
“At first, it was kind of like ‘this doesn’t happen,’” said Matthew Dennis, a senior exercise science major from Charlotte, North Carolina. “The flooding that happened up there was just unprecedented.”
Many of Dennis’ loved ones were impacted by the hurricane, including several friends that go to Appalachian State University and other colleges in the area.
“The entire first floor of their apartment complexes are flooded up to the ceilings,” Dennis said. “They’ve lost cars; they’ve lost internet; they’ve lost basically everything.”
Thousands are still without power and fighting to regain a sense of normalcy. Not used to weather like this, many residents of the affected communities were unprepared and without flood insurance.
Now, the community is banding together to help in any way they can. For some, that means sending food, water and resources to the areas hit the hardest.
“Much of Appalachia is deeply impoverished, and I don’t foresee the rebuilding process going as smoothly as it may have in more middle-class areas,” Ziegler said. “Organizations such as World Central Kitchen and Samaritan’s Purse have been on the ground, doing an amazing job helping to feed the victims and beginning to rebuild.”
Several areas became shelters for those who lost their homes. With classes and athletics on hold until further notice, Appalachia State’s basketball arena and University of North Carolina Asheville were used as Red Cross shelters.
“The biggest thing to do is to rely on each other,” Dennis said. “I’ve seen it time and time again; when disaster strikes, the community comes together.
“The colleges are sending students out to volunteer. I’ve seen companies, ones that aren’t even located in the region, come together to get supplies and necessary things for the community. I think the big thing for these communities moving forward is to just stick together.”
Dennis said Troy University’s Student Government Association plans to partner with the Student Athletic Advisory Committee for a disaster relief drive, raising funds for Helene victims to get the resources they need. This is one way for people right here in Troy to offer their support.
Komentar