In November, the Collegian published an exclusive eyewitness account of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina, and other affected areas. The article described the great loss the citizens suffered as a result of Helene and told the stories of those who had no power, food or water. But the story also focused on the amazing sense of community that had sprung up out of the debris—of people sacrificing time and resources to help refugees they had never met.
Now, nearly four months later, BJU continues to send teams of student volunteers to the areas affected by the storm, like Asheville and Barnardsville. Arch Ministries has played a vital role in coordinating these trips, connecting willing volunteers with churches and other non-profit organizations who need volunteers. One location that BJU recently aided was the Community Center in Barnardsville: an area of tents stocked to the brim with supplies to aid the struggling community. Others provide free meals and campers for those who have not been able to move into their homes again.
Although the area has received some federal aid, it is not nearly enough to cover all the reconstruction costs of such a devastated area. Circumstances were difficult enough when the weather was warm; now that temperatures fall below freezing during mountain nights, those who must still live in tents are in miserable conditions at best. Competing against more recent stories like the presidential election and the Super Bowl, many of the displaced and struggling citizens feel forgotten in a sea of “bigger news.”
But their circumstances are not hopeless. Barnardsville Fire Capt. Jeff Payne has been chopping wood by himself for people’s homes since the early days after the hurricane. He reports that the people’s situation, while far from perfect, has steadily improved. The road conditions have improved, in part due to the efforts of a community member who single-handedly rebuilt some of the main roads using his own equipment before the state shut him down. While some are still homeless and living in tents, most displaced people have been able to move back into their homes or find alternate housing.
Capt. Payne is one of the many who lost his home to Helene. But he says that the storm, while terrible, brought people together. He has lived in Barnardsville his entire life, yet he says that Hurricane Helene “brought the people together like I’ve never seen.” He also said that the efforts of Arch Ministries and the teams from BJU have been invaluable to the community’s recovery, providing an opportunity for rest for those who have worked nonstop since the storm.
Although much of the world has moved on, the citizens of western North Carolina continue to face unique struggles months after the hurricane that changed their lives. For those who cannot make trips to these areas to physically assist, prayer is just as powerful. Remember those in need. Pray for the people affected by Helene.
