Hurricane Helene strikes up memories

Back in 2012, I was the publisher of a small daily newspaper in Rutherford County, N.C. It was a beautiful community filled with wonderful people who would give you the shirt off their back if they knew it would help ease your pain.

In my Christmas card that year I wrote to my friends back home in the Midwest, “These are good people. Truly the salt of the earth…these Appalachians. They loved their music, their folksy ways and their neighbors.”

Last week, like many, I was glued to news channels and the internet trying to find out how my dear friends at the Western North Carolina newspaper were faring.

My attempts to get in touch, were met with “I’m sorry all phone lines are down. Please try your call again later.”

Finally on Sunday, I was able to reach one of my former employees. When she heard my voice, she started to cry. “I was wondering if the rest of the country has been seeing our horrific news,” she said. “We’re just devasted by the storm.”

She shared with me her front-page story that published last week. Those opening paragraphs reminded me of how much the community cherishes each other.

“There are absolutely no words to describe the tragedy and destruction Hurricane Helene brought to Rutherford County, Western North Carolina and other areas last week. There are no monetary damage estimates available yet, but here in Rutherford County, million and millions of dollars in damage has been caused as well as several lives lost.

“The thought that there is no Chimney Rock Village is unfathomable and Lake Lure’s devastation is beyond comprehension. We will never be able to image what our friends and neighbors have been through.

“But as power still is being restored to countless people across county, help is here and still on the way. Thousands of people have been affected by the storm and thousands of people are responding with help.

“Restaurants, coffee shops and other local businesses have offered free food, coffee and other services. Many are feeding the public throughout the week at no cost to the recipient.

“People are volunteering with heavy equipment and machinery to move the mountains of trees and debris. Plus, pack mules and horses are loaded with supplies to reach our fellow mountain residents.”

From church volunteers, the local community college and public schools have become staging areas for literally hundreds of Duke Energy trucks and members of the North Carolina National Guard.

“Our county is grieving over the devastation and loss we have experienced over the past few days,” Rutherford County Manager Steve Garrison. “Please continue to lift us up in your thoughts and prayers.”

So please, if you have a chance to offer an extra prayer to remember my dear friends and former colleagues in Rutherford County, N.C., I would be beyond grateful.

My heart breaks for them.