A season to remember what we've gone through

 
Thinking about how far we've come in just 2 months! Sept. 27 was when Hurricane Helene blew through with flooding, landslides, and high winds, a bit over 9 weeks ago.

Lake Lure, the storm gave it a coating of debris, which was slowly collected and hauled away.

Debris washed along every river and stream and made huge mountains where it couldn't go further. As it's cleaned up, it's piled on the sides of roads waiting for pick up. At one time army trucks had a big crane grabber that would put the pile into another truck to be hauled off. But it hasn't been around lately. We drive carefully on Blue Ridge Road which survived the storm but is parallel to the Swannanoa River, so there's a lot of debris piled up on both sides of the road..

Before Hurricane Helene & after -  Buck Creek Trout Farm, Marion NC

People in Black Mountain came together when there was no water, electricity nor wi-fi. Signs were posted in front of the church giving out water and food...in front of the welcome center...we reverted back to reading signs by the road...who had hot meals, who had free water, or clothes, or whatever. But mainly people got to know their neighbors. Everyone wanted to help each other!

At the Owens Pool Park in Swannanoa there were showers provided in the far buildings and laundry machines (maybe 25 or so washers and driers) in the tent at the right. Of course free hot meals were trucked in from the Red Cross, and there was always free water and various cleaning supplies and snacks. When these centers were being closed down in Asheville, this one remained active, based on the amount of use. I found out that the apartment's laundry room was again operational when I paid my December rent...nobody told me! It's more convenient but not free!

First snow, Nov 22, 2024. Yes people were still in tents, and tiny homes and travel trailers. The white tent is called a hot tent, as it has a heating unit installed and double walls. I'd guess most of these people had some heaters. The blue tarp in the foreground is just covering supplies.

FEMA trailers waiting to be given out to people who had land with electricity and plumbing. Lots of people who owned  land in flooded areas were not eligible due to FEMA not housing people where it might flood again.  There's a call out today in our Facebook area for anyone who has room for 6 campers and is willing to have them stay there a year.

One man is the beneficiary of this crew who set up his new camper (donated by one of many all over the country).

This Wednesday December 4th Black Mountain United Methodist Church is hosting open table. They will be serving lunch from 11:30 till 12:45. All are welcome bring a friend. A good place for Food and Fellowship. They will be serving Ham, mac and cheese, baked beans, salad, bread, dessert. Suggested donation of $2.

This free meal has been offered for years, and only had to pause a few weeks after the storm until there was potable water when they were back at serving our community each Wednesday. I know several of the volunteers, and plan to go try their ham lunch today!

Beloved Asheville provided December's rent to cover 52 families in Swannanoa. They have also constructed a village of tiny homes in Asheville (before the hurricane struck.)

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Art for today:

Erin Hanson (American, b. 1981-) Mosaic Path 2018

Today's quote:

If he does not fight, it is not because he rejects all fighting as futile, but because he has finished his fights. He has overcome all dissensions between himself and the world and is now at rest... We shall have wars and soldiers so long as the brute in us is untamed. -Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, philosopher and second president of India (1888-1975)

Today on my blog Open Yesterday's Pages, see St. Barbara's Day or Rilke.