Personal Helene Update : Sept. 30

This was AFTER our neighbors cut us out with chainsaws. It would be 3 months before we'd find a tree service to remove the debris.

And here is View Drive. It hasn't been touched. And the large bottom line would still be on the ground in January. Eventually, I would cut one of those yellow ties to keep on my miniature shelf.

And THIS is why I haven't been able to see Shana. I wouldn't even attempt to go over the Mountain for months, and the longer way was blocked due to bridge being out on 11, right by Jomes gap.

In fact, the linemen who would eventually work on our road were from Canada and only spoke French! I know because I tried to thank them!

The linemen are getting closer!

The Mountain State Fairgrounds became a DOT home base.

The Short Story of Hurricane Helene :

On the night of September 26 , 2024 Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina as a true representation of global warming and climate change. Asheville, Lake Lure & Chimney Rock were completely destroyed while all surrounding areas, including ours, were ravaged, and Helene would fight with Katrina as as deadliest Hurricane in modern US history with 238 officially dead, and probably many more deceased homeless. Water is the true killer of any hurricane, and we had both wind AND water. Our diciduous trees were not designed for this wind, and many of them came down, ruining countless homes. The biggest problem was the water reservoir and watershed located just north of Asheville. We had many days of rain, pre-storm. This had already filled the reservoir. Helene made it overflow and the resulting flood flowed into the valleys destroying everything in its path. This flood converged in Chimney Rock destroying the entire town and ended at Lake Lure which became a literal graveyard of homes, debris, ... and bodies. We would spend 1 week without power and 2.5 weeks without phone and internet. Our entire yard would be littered with fallen trees, our driveway blocked (our chainsaw owning neighbors would free us), and our outbuilding (a hopeful stables for my future goats) was destroyed, but our home was untouched!

Hurricane Helene Update : Sept. 29

No one has power, so the only way to go online to get internet or contact loved ones was to park at Ingles. It must have had a mobile Hotspot parked near or something. The store itself didn't have power.

Another reason why I-40 into Tennessee would still be closed in January.

While online in the parking lot, I was finally able to see the radar of Hurricane Helene spiraling over our area. 

... and I learned to operate our generator.

The Short Story of Hurricane Helene :

On the night of September 26 , 2024 Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina as a true representation of global warming and climate change. Asheville, Lake Lure & Chimney Rock were completely destroyed while all surrounding areas, including ours, were ravaged, and Helene would fight with Katrina as as deadliest Hurricane in modern US history with 238 officially dead, and probably many more deceased homeless. Water is the true killer of any hurricane, and we had both wind AND water. Our diciduous trees were not designed for this wind, and many of them came down, ruining countless homes. The biggest problem was the water reservoir and watershed located just north of Asheville. We had many days of rain, pre-storm. This had already filled the reservoir. Helene made it overflow and the resulting flood flowed into the valleys destroying everything in its path. This flood converged in Chimney Rock destroying the entire town and ended at Lake Lure which became a literal graveyard of homes, debris, ... and bodies. We would spend 1 week without power and 2.5 weeks without phone and internet. Our entire yard would be littered with fallen trees, our driveway blocked (our chainsaw owning neighbors would free us), and our outbuilding (a hopeful stables for my future goats) was destroyed, but our home was untouched!

Hurricane Helene Update : Sept. 28

EVERYONE is out of power in our area. Ours is the highest number on the above map: 167,000. Today the only few buildings with power (the top priority)were the couple of gas stations & restaurants by the interstates. ... 

So we were never happier to go to a Zaxbys! And even at that, it was cash only at all places!

On the way home we stopped at Immaculate Conception for the vigil Mass by candlelight. Quite magical. No power there either.

This part of I-40 going into Tennessee was completely destroyed. It still wouldn't be open 4 months later!

Above is one of the saddest pictures of Hurricane destruction: Chimney Rock before and after. The town is no more.

We got SO excited to see.this worker come up View Drive! He was just assessing the damage, though. 

The Short Story of Hurricane Helene :

On the night of September 26 , 2024 Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina as a true representation of global warming and climate change. Asheville, Lake Lure & Chimney Rock were completely destroyed while all surrounding areas, including ours, were ravaged, and Helene would fight with Katrina as as deadliest Hurricane in modern US history with 238 officially dead, and probably many more deceased homeless. Water is the true killer of any hurricane, and we had both wind AND water. Our diciduous trees were not designed for this wind, and many of them came down, ruining countless homes. The biggest problem was the water reservoir and watershed located just north of Asheville. We had many days of rain, pre-storm. This had already filled the reservoir. Helene made it overflow and the resulting flood flowed into the valleys destroying everything in its path. This flood converged in Chimney Rock destroying the entire town and ended at Lake Lure which became a literal graveyard of homes, debris, ... and bodies. We would spend 1 week without power and 2.5 weeks without phone and internet. Our entire yard would be littered with fallen trees, our driveway blocked (our chainsaw owning neighbors would free us), and our outbuilding (a hopeful stables for my future goats) was destroyed, but our home was untouched!

Bello Unphased by Hurricane Helene

Aftermath of Hurricane Helene

Today we were trying to get to Oma after Hurrican Helene hit us at night. Oma was with Joe, so we weren't too worried, but there was ZERO communication. Internet was only possible through mobile units that stationed themselves around the area. Long story short, we could never get to Oma. All roads were blocked coming from West Hendersonville and going to East Hendersonville. We tried all routes. Everything was flooded. We often saw cars submerged. The only way to get anywhere near was to go 280 to Haywood Road, but there was no way to get through town. We were smart and got gas, because gas would become a hot commodity in the coming days. We had no choice but to come back home, stopping at the closed Etowah Ingles because it was the only place to get internet and service. Any pictures with a notation with my own. At home, I thank God I filled up our large bathtub with water (as we used it for the next week). And Brian busied himself learning how to work our generator which we would end up using for an hour onto every night. Short story of Helene will be repeated at the bottom of this post.

The Short Story of Hurricane Helene :

On the night of September 26 , 2024 Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina as a true representation of global warming and climate change. Asheville, Lake Lure & Chimney Rock were completely destroyed while all surrounding areas, including ours, were ravaged, and Helene would fight with Katrina as as deadliest Hurricane in modern US history with 238 officially dead, and probably many more deceased homeless. Water is the true killer of any hurricane, and we had both wind AND water. Our diciduous trees were not designed for this wind, and many of them came down, ruining countless homes. The biggest problem was the water reservoir and watershed located just north of Asheville. We had many days of rain, pre-storm. This had already filled the reservoir. Helene made it overflow and the resulting flood flowed into the valleys destroying everything in its path. This flood converged in Chimney Rock destroying the entire town and ended at Lake Lure which became a literal graveyard of homes, debris, ... and bodies. We would spend 1 week without power and 2.5 weeks without phone and internet. Our entire yard would be littered with fallen trees, our driveway blocked (our chainsaw owning neighbors would free us), and our outbuilding (a hopeful stables for my future goats) was destroyed, but our home was untouched!

Hurricane Helene Hits North Carolina

On the night of September 26 , 2024 Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina as a true representation of global warming and climate change. Asheville, Lake Lure & Chimney Rock were completely destroyed while all surrounding areas, including ours, were ravaged, and Helene would fight with Katrina as as deadliest Hurricane in modern US history with 238 officially dead, and probably many more deceased homeless. Water is the true killer of any hurricane, and we had both wind AND water. Our diciduous trees were not designed for this wind, and many of them came down, ruining countless homes. The biggest problem was the water reservoir and watershed located just north of Asheville. We had many days of rain, pre-storm. This had already filled the reservoir. Helene made it overflow and the resulting flood flowed into the valleys destroying everything in its path. This flood converged in Chimney Rock destroying the entire town and ended at Lake Lure which became a literal graveyard of homes, debris, ... and bodies. We would spend 1 week without power and 2.5 weeks without phone and internet. Our entire yard would be littered with fallen trees, our driveway blocked (our chainsaw owning neighbors would free us), and our outbuilding (a hopeful stables for my future goats) was destroyed, but our home was untouched!

Oma Gets Engaged !

In an amazing turn-of-events, Oma is already engaged to Joe Blankenship! The two just can't be apart, so they would start living together (on separate floors, which was important to Oma that everyone knew) as well as going to Mass together every single day. And it was just in time because we were just about to get slammed by Hurricane Helene. The speed of their engagement isn't that surprising for their generation. Mom & dad got married after only 2 weeks. The general process is meet, fall in love, get married. Both were married to their former spouse for over 50 years. And I have no doubt they will be married for the rest of their lives.

Annie's Geometric Teapot

A new creation by Annie!... not fired or glazed yet, but so beautiful! I'm sorry to say, it didn't make it to the final firing and was broken in the process. I'm glad I got this picture!

Mountain State Fair 2024 with Leia

I'm SO glad that we got to go to the fair with Leia & Harvest, as well as Harvest's cousin Tal (formerly Jarod), Shana, Elaine & Tom.

And it's the first time I got an apple dumpling!

... and Shana got her Mango chelada! 

Oma Meets Joe on Catholic Match

Here is Oma off on her first date with Joe Blankenship! I helped mom meet him on Catholic Match. I cant say enough about this website! It is a blessing, especially for the elderly, who want to get married again. April wanted to get Oma a dog, but mom just kept saying, "I don't want a dog, I want a MAN." So, we found Joe! ... Mom isn't good with technology, so I printed Joe's pictures and responses for mom. He looked like a perfect match, ... AND HE WAS! ... A big sign was his love of his pond near his home in McDonough, GA, ... just as much as Oma loves her stream! And he brought her a beautiful flower arrangement for their first date.