Dave Edwards–a look at Helene’s devastation
I have just viewed a video taken by a rescue worker of Chimney Rock, North Carolina. It’s about :35 long, but it is all you need to understand the devastation that has hit the western Carolinas in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Our vacation plans this March entailed a change: instead of our usual trek west or southwest, we decided to head east, to the Chimney Rock-Lake Lure area in the western Carolina mountains. We had a great time. Hiked, played golf, visited numerous restaurants, wineries and witnessed beautiful views. Those views have taken an ugly turn.
Hurricane Helene, after slamming through Florida and Georgia, parked for days in the Carolinas, Tennessee and other states. But, western North Carolina took the biggest hit. The aforementioned video tells the story. Roads washed out, businesses destroyed, towns changed forever….lives lost.
Lake Lure is unrecognizable…filled with debris including timber, boats, homes and more. Remember—this is an area over 400 miles away from the Helene’s landfall in Florida.
How tragically ironic that a fair amount of people that live in that area enjoy the fact that severe weather rarely ever occurs there. Until now.
