It’s not that we weren’t warned something bad was coming.  We had no reason to really believe though.  It couldn’t really be that bad, we’ve seen flooding from hurricanes in the past, but …

Now we are un-recognizable. 

And we had it EASY comparatively!!

Before Helene…

Personally, I returned from a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend Oktoberfest in Germany. I had been on PDO for 7 days.   We returned Tuesday and there was some rain on and off.  We got to our house by 4 and I headed to work to check in.  The weather reports were already showing lots of rain coming in over the end of the week and thunderstorms.  But we knew hurricane Helene was still in the water South of Florida.  But Wednesday and Thursdays rain was actually not due to the hurricane but another storm that rolled in from the SouthWest.  Games were getting moved due to the incoming weather.  Friday night game was actually moved to Wednesday night at Mitchell High School.  Big move up but hey game would be done.  Other schools were moving them to Thursday and then actually pushing back to Friday again as they watched the weather.  

Wednesday morning was gonna be a long day I knew.  I was at school by 830am to start catching up.  Paperwork, injuries, team checks… Didn’t leave.  Packing up the car before the rain started.  Team left from team meal at 4.  I checked in on all the teams at home practicing and set up the gym for volleyball and headed out at 420pm.  I had one student in the car with me from my sports med program.  As we got on the road, lightning alerts started at the school.  Contacted coaches and they got off the fields.  As we hit Old Fort, the rain began and were torrential.  

Shanda came up and covered the Volleyball game for me.  The middle school football game at been canceled due to the potential of incoming weather.  The last game that would be held. Prior to the storm.

As we battled the rain up the mountain, we arrived and coach joked that we made it in time for a 30 min delay as the lightning just started.  It was about 530ish as we arrived.  Taped a few kids, however quit when we realized it may be a decent delay to get outside.  Coach Faircloth just kept chanting we were playing this game at midnight if we had to.  Lol.  

So we all huddled up in the locker room area.  There’s a nice hallway outside the locker room that we could hang in.  Parents and cheerleaders had arrived and huddled in cars and the bus.  After an hour or so, questions were rolling in about if the game would be played.  On the lightning app and WeatherBug there was no sign of lightning ending.  Rain was pouring.  It would slow, then pick up.  Admin Padgett and Allie showed and hung out on the bus.  Kids were heading to the bus to sleep as well while they waited.  Taylee indicated that cheerleaders parents were taking their daughters home by car due to the flooding in Black Mountain.  The school system then sent out a text and call indicating that school would be canceled for the following 2 days.  That led the kids in big cheers. 

Finally at 8pm the Emergency Management services of Mitchell County forced the game to be canceled for the night.  So we drove home.  Yet again in torrential downpours in Marion and Old Fort with less visual this time.  We headed back to the school to unpack the car and head home.  I arrived home around 930pm.

The rain didn’t end.  It died down Thursday morning.  Teachers had an optional teacher workday so they and I went in and worked on many needed things.  Left around noon and headed home as the weather was starting to worsen again.  Conrad was sent home early at noon as well after closing up the parkway for the incoming storm.  The word was that the hurricane would be really hitting us in the middle of the night.  However the rain was coming down from the storm all afternoon and evening but just at a lighter to moderate rain. 

Our Air Conditioner had gone out a few weeks ago, just before our trip to Germany.  So we had been sleeping with the windows open.  I sleep great with rain.  

Helene Arrives…

Around 3am the rain picked up and you could hear it.  I woke and sent a group chat to my mom and sisters checking in.  Alyson doesn’t live by a river but she lives further West in Haywood county.  My parents and Liz live on my parents property with has a creek about 75 yards from my parents’ house but only 15 yards behind my sisters house.  At that time they were all ok.  I had fallen asleep during their responses.

317am- Crystal- ‘Ya’ll Ok?’

3:18am- Alyson- ‘We’re good .  Had power flicker a few times but so far stayed on’

Mom ‘It’s still in!’ (Referring to the creek). ‘ No power loss’

3:22- Alyson ‘Good’

3:26am- Mom- ‘Wrong.  It’s to the Shed.  I had to walk out a little closer with the flashlight.   Wind is up too’

3:59am- Mom- ‘Lights flickering.  Good dad’s truck to neighbors yard and tree is down on Liz’s road’

4:50am- Mom- ‘Nobody go nowhere.  We are going to lose power.   Been flickering.  Wind is up and tree are going to be falling’

4:51am- Alyson- ‘Yeah we’re staying put’

Mom ‘Good.  We don’t have a choice now’

4:59am- Mom- ‘Canceling Reunion’

5:01am- Crystal- ‘Ok.  Yeah we just lost power’

Mom- ‘It will be a soggy mess and no telling what kind of clean up will be needed around here’

Alyson and Crystal indicate no concerns of flooding at our homes.  Alyson has positioned their vehicles to avoid debris.

5:06- Liz- ‘Calvin and I are here.  Not working this weekend.’

5:30 am Liz shows a photo of the water coming up from the Quail Hollow side of their house… up to the driveway over the creek.  

5:31am- Mom suggests upstairs as an option for flooding

5:33am- Alyson loses power.  Moms is still flickering.  Liz has power and is washing clothes.

5:35am- Alyson was hoping to brew coffee but had a hard time getting up to do so before the power went.  Liz has brewed coffee though.  We joke about coffee and iced tea needs and Door Dash in the weather. 

5:54am- Parents power goes out.

6:24am- Mom says ‘Water is close to us and Liz.  Gonna get us I’m afraid.  Hopefully not in the house’. Too dark for a picture

6:37am – Liz shows a pic of water going across the front of the house now about half way across it.

6:50am- Liz indicated water is under the trampoline, up into their driveway now ‘This is by far the worst its ever been’

6:51am- Mom says ‘The Lord is going to protect us.  Praying for Jesus to stop the wind and the rain!!’

Silence

Conrad and I get up, make coffee on the camp stove.  I give my husband so much credit for even amazing campstove coffee with his fresh beans he roasts.  Totally worth it.  We sit in the dark.  I’m watching facebook.  Texting with a few people.  Water is not doing much around our house except falling.  But its heavy.  We can’t see any flooding from where we are.  So we are kinda clueless to the significance.  I text with Kenny Ford and he tells me that the North Fork Reservoir area is getting evacuated and I tell him that the Presbyterian Home is getting evacuated at their lower levels.  I later learn that kids were evacuated from their homes to the cafeteria and while there a kid saw a tree come at the building and they all got out of the cafeteria in a fast evacuation to avoid the damage that caused.

At 845am I realize I haven’t heard from family.  I recheck.  No group chats are responding.   I try calling mom, dad, Liz, Alyson.  I start sending messages to mom and Liz… nothing.  I finally text dad at 918am.   Here’s our conversation for the day until I see him again.

Me- Hey

Dad- Disaster

Me- Oh no.  What do you mean.

Dad- Everything gone

Me- What?  How’s everything?  Where’s Liz?  Where are y’all?  Can someone call?

Dad- Garage boat carport everything in the garage.  

Upstairs.  Call.  (I try to call but it won’t go though fully) Can not hear you.

Me- Call me.  I’m trying.  Is Liz w u?  Are you safe?  Call 911 for Swift Rescue.  Please remember it is all material!!

Dad- No at her house.  Water at my door.

Me- which door?

Dad- my garage just classy

Me-Collapsed?

Dad- Collapsed

Me- its ok

Dad- Collapsed.  No at her house.

Me- Her house garage is gone???

Followed by the messages from dad repeating constantly since they weren’t going through.  It’s like a repetitive movie echoing …

No at her house.  No.  water at my door.  My garage is gone.  No.   Collapsed.  No at her house.  No.  No. At her house.  Mom is here with me.  

At 939am- I’m trying to call 911 and text him this.  lines are so long.  I try calling the Fairview Fire Dept.  Public Safety.  911.    

I continue asking questions and here are his responses:

At 946am he says we are upstairs and safe so far.

948am dad says Water in my house bottom floor.  Cars are under the water.  At least 2 feet high by my window downstairs.    Outside water at least 4 feet high.  He says yes its rushing water. 

1008am he says At this point no one can come here. 

We’ll they say to stay put unless the building is collapsed.

I am trying to send you a picture but it won’t go through.  

1032am he says water is going down.  It’s off my front porch.  But sill four steps high.  These 2 sentences are resent over and over and over through the cell phone issues. 

No more communication is to be had from 11am til 308pm.  That was a hard 4 hours. 

308pm:  He says- Bridge is out.  My driveway has big holes in it.  Hyundai is destroyed- mud is everywhere one foot deep.  No one can go anywhere or come here until roads and bridges are fixed.  No electricity yet.  We are good with food.  Battery is dead.  I am taking my phone to my car to charge.

My communications with Liz started at 923am:

923am:  Liz says ‘ Bad very bad’

I ask:  Please tell me more.  Are ya’ll upstairs.  Can I call 911.

Liz responds:  Cars gone.  Yes.  I can’t get through. 

At 9:24 I say I’ll call.   And I start calling 911.

Liz texts back :  We aren’t safe.  We are inside wearing life jackets.

I ask:  Are you with mom and dad.  I’m trying to call.

Liz:  No

I ask:  Where are they?  Is your house floating?

Liz:  Okay.  No

At this point they can’t reach my parents.  But I don’t know if they are both in the same house at this time or in separate homes.  They live close to each other so I thought they may have possibly joined each other in 1 house.  After trying to call 911 with my phone, Daniels phone and getting many holds… we call with Conrads phone and immediately get through and notify them.  

I also put posts on facebook and Jennifer Wilson passes information to the FD and they pass to Fairview.  All emergency personnel are spread thin on so many similar rescue missions.  

946am:  

I ask. Are you ok?  Mom and dad are ok.  They are upstairs.  remember do not stress over lost material things.  Do you have all 4 kids?

953am: Liz asks:  Have you heard from mom and dad. 

I respond that yes they are ok.  

Liz responds:  yes.  Scared.  Upstairs.

I respond:  I have texted with them.  They are safe.  I m trying to call everyone I know and every emergency service and no public on facebook.  

Liz asks if I got through to 911?  

I respond no that I’m still trying. 

10am Liz tells me the kids are with Barry.   She is past worried about material things .

10:02am- 911 Finally answers!  (this was after starting at 924am)

1003am- Liz says its just her and Calvin.  Her messages start repeating as well.

1013am- Liz gives me Maddy’s temporary number in case I need to reach her.  Her phone had problems so she had a temp.  At this point I don’t hear from Liz anymore despite me asking questions.

1022am:  I text and try to call Maddie.  She could only text.  At this point they are downstairs at his house with a tree in his roof.  Barry’s phone was the only one that would call at 1027am.  I told them I got a hold of 911 and that they were ok.  I message back and forth with Maddie a little after this and get Calvins’ number from her. 

At our home in Black Mountain the rain has almost stopped and the radar shows that the storm is practically done.

10:38am I start texting Calvin assuming Liz’s phone is dead.

I ask him if the water is receding and they are ok.  Also that Maddie is ok. 

10:44am He responds that the water is receding slightly.  I update him on what dad has told me about his receding.  

1046am Calvin indicates that there’s leaking around the front door some. 

10:58am Calvin indicates that the water is rising again.  ‘We need rescue’

1106am I respond that I have told/called everyone I can at this point.  

I hear no more from Calvin as cell services dropped.  Later to learn cell towers just fell.

119pm he texts me to tell me to let Maddie know they are ok.  

158pm- I ask if they are ok

3:11pm- He responds Yes

Around 11ish we get out and start cleaning what we know we can clean and evaluate ways out of our neighborhood.  After cutting a tree we figure out we can get to friends houses and go help remove trees from the Kamer’s front yard and check on the MacElraths and Johnsons.  They are all together after 2 massive trees fell in the Kamer’s back yard and another few smaller trees fell in the front yard. 

Cell service starts slowly coming in at 120pm.  Lasts 10 min.  Then I learn that its due to the Montreat Towers.  So I roll out on 70 to see the damage, see how Far East we can go to check on my parents and find that I can get Cell service close to Hopey and Goodwill.  So I park there and catch up.  See some athletes who’ve been walking around and have seen damage already and they update me.  

I finally hear from Alyson at 3:44pm.  Communication is bad she says.  Her and Nick have gotten out and are exploring and trying to get to Fairview.  They have no idea due to no cell service what they experienced.  They message me that they are able to reach Mom and Dads via sketchy roads.  Old Fort Road was bad they said.  So I grab Conrad up and tell him we’re heading there too.  So for a moment we are all together.  That is a blessing.  

Their 3 acre property is a foot of mud.  The creek is now a river that is now tripled in size.  There is so much debris in the creek.  The bridge over the creek has completely disappeared.  A gentleman drives down and notes that he has now found his house in the creek/now river.  The bridge guard rails are torn into multiple pieces and wrapped around trees and scattered through the yard in various places.  The garage completely collapsed and is under the roof that looks great.  Just looks like a roof sitting on mud.   The entire garage and everything in it including the freezers and fridges and so much stuff my mom has stored there is under that roof in the mud.  There’s a sink hole where there’s usually a driveway.  The garden my parents worked so hard on over their retirement years is gone.  I find a few pots that are salvageable scattered across the property.  The boat floated back towards my sisters house.  It looks salvageable.  My moms car floated back behind my sisters house and is wedged facedown into the creek with Liz’s front porch and the firm power line cord.  My dad had parked his truck over by the neighbors so its usable.  Lizs Toyota is able to be pulled out of the mud with an excavator and actually works with question.  The other 2 vehicles in their yard of hers and Calvins are not working.  They too are stuck in the mud.  The only way to leave is via Church road.  However the lines are Down all over the roads so there’s a lot of dodging to get around.  At the top of Blue Ridge Dev Road the Whitaker Road Bridges are gone.  

The inside of my parents and sisters houses were mud covered and will need new flooring however they are standing.  Debris all over the front porch from where it rushed in with the water.  However it has subsided.  There will be a lot of work to be done. 

The hot tub on the back deck is full of hot water still and clean and untouched.  We were able to fill buckets and all the cleaning towels and mops we could find and scrub the floors clean with that.  

My parents have faith and are patient and comfort in knowing they are provided for.  Despite that they had this damage, they are healthy and ok.  They were better off than so many!

A few days in and a friend of the family offered our entire family a place to stay in Hickory for days for clean showers and power to respite while waiting.  While some took advantage, we were able to get all the high school and under kids away for a break, others of us stayed back and chose to work in our communities to help.  We’ll take our breaks later.