Now that Hurricane Helene has spent herself, it might seem like the worst is over. But some of her effects are long-lasting.
I have friends in SC who are still without power and have been told it likely won’t be restored until Friday, at the earliest. There is so much debris just to get to the power lines, and so much involved in repairing and replacing them, that it’s going to take a while.
I-40 is the main highway through the mountains. When we first moved to TN from SC, I-40 was closed due to a major rockslide that damaged the roads. There was a detour that added about an hour to our route. But with so many bridges and mountain passes damaged now, it’s hard, if not impossible, to get through.
I’ve seen photos of part of I-40 on the edge of a cliff that just washed away. I don’t know how they repair something like that. I don’t know if they cut deeper into the side of the mountain, or if they can somehow build a retaining wall underneath the road. Either way, it’s going to take a long time to repair.
Because trucks with supplies can’t get through, there are lines at gas stations. Stores are starting to run out of some supplies. Many businesses are operating on a cash-only basis because they are without internet service and can’t process credit cards. Of course, many people don’t have ready cash or can’t get to their banks.
Because businesses are closed, some people are not earning money right now. Many can’t afford the unpaid time off.
This is peak tourist season for the Blue Ridge area, as people usually come to see the fall leaf color in the mountains. But a lot of businesses, especially the smaller ones, are closed and under repair.
Besides supply chain and economic issues, many people are still missing. Some have lost loved ones in horrific circumstances.
And that’s just SC, NC, and parts of eastern TN. I imagine parts of FL are facing similar or worse circumstances.
I’ve heard a lot of encouraging news, too. Linemen from our area and others are traveling south to help repair the lines. People are raising funds to help. I even saw someone was taking his mules down to help remove heavy debris.
Please continue to pray for the physical, economic, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs of the people affected by Helene.
Updated to add: Unfortunately, tragedies like this bring out scam artists looking to capitalize on people’s sympathy and generosity. If you feel inclined to help or give in any way, please be careful and give or donate only to reputable places. Samaritan’s Purse is one such organization: another is Operation Renewed Hope. There are many more. A lot of churches. groups, and individuals are helping as well.
Stray Thoughts 
Thanks so much for this post and for your prayers. We live in Laurens County SC and our power is not expected to be restored until Monday, Oct 7th. We are doing okay because we have solar panels and a propane generator, but our neighbors have no water because the well pumps around here run by electricity. Three neighbors have been to our house to get water which we are happy to provide. The days are very long because there is nothing to do (even I can’t do laundry or use my stove) and all activities have been cancelled including church tonight. Pray that Monday is a worst case scenario, but by the looks of the electric wires dangling from trees on our property, it seems hard to believe they can get it done that soon! My husband is busy getting downed trees off the fence line for the cows and sheep. We did lose two lambs in the storm that weren’t strong enough to withstand the conditions. Another prayer request would be that our animals, including our livestock guardian dogs, would remain on our property despite the fact our electric fence.is no longer electrified! Thank you! I have no complaints we were very fortunate – a neighbor a few acres away had a huge tree fall on his house landing in his bedroom.
Renee
I’m so sorry to hear of all that has happened at your place–but glad it wasn’t worse. I didn’t know until last weekend that loss of electricity meant water can’t be pumped from a well–that happened to my Sunday School teacher. I hope and pray your power comes back on soon, if it hasn’t yet, and your animals stay near.
Praise God our power came back on Wed evening – several days ahead of predictions. My husband finished the fence line yesterday to 6 pm and our fence is electrified again! Please say a prayer for Jason, a man we buy eggs from about 4 miles away- his house was destroyed and has to be rebuilt. A huge tree split the house right down the middle. He and his wife and 2 kids are currently living in his church’s parsonage that fortunately was not being used. The electric linemen have been wonderful here, so thankful for them working in shifts 24 hours a day, but 30 percent in our area are still without power. Hopefully soon!
I’m glad your power came back on earlier than expected! I’m so sorry for Jason and others who have lost their homes.
Wow, that’s wonderful to hear!
I will continue to pray! This must be so difficult for these poor souls! I cannot imagine what they must be going through. Thank you Barbara for keeping this on our minds.
It surprises me that the news doesn’t seem to be reporting much on this. It seems much of what I’m learning is from blogs like yours and social media. I appreciate this post and will continue praying. I can see how this would be especially poignant to you given that you lived in SC! Fascinating about the mule — a friend posted about Mountain Mule Packer Ranch on Facebook. They are using mules to bring supplies to areas that are hard to access. It’s heartening to see regular people getting things done.
I have two sisters still in SC as well as friends. Plus Asheville, SC, is one of my favorite places. We’ve driven the highway between here and SC so much, it’s hard to fathom the destruction there. I just saw an estimate that it will take a year, at least, to repair that one highway.
The damage is unbelieveable! I see video and photos and I almost can’t beleive it. And you are right, besides losing homes and businesses to this, there is the income lost from tourism and people’s livelihoods.
It is heartwarming to see people band together with collection centers for supplies, linemen traveling (some from Canada), people helping others.
I hope your family and friends have power restored soon.
Jim pointed out that most of the folks in NC probably don’t have flood insurance–because they usually don’t have flooding in NC. 😦 So that’s another layer to the problems.
I have a friend who lives in the Greenville area and she was four days without power. Our WV National Guard has been dispatched to go to SC to help and more of them will be going to NC as soon as it’s determined where they can be the most useful.
It will be a long time getting things restored. May we all band together to do what we can, whether that be praying or being able to have a more physical presence there.
I have a friend who drove from OH to Greenville this week–she was going to stop here, but ended up having to travel through VA and WV instead. I wondered if she was near your neck of the woods! I just saw that it’s going to take a year, at best, to repair I-40.
I’ve never seen so much debris as the aftermath of this storm. So many properties where there is literally nothing left but a smattering of boards probably not even their property to begin with.
Certainly praying for the rescuers, linemen, first responders, aid groups like Samaritan’s Purse, volunteers, and of course all the residents who must be bewildered.
P.S. I forgot to mention that the counties in southern WV also had significant damage as a result of Hurricane Helene.
Hurricane Helene and it’s aftermath have changed the lives of many. I pray for all affected by this horrific storm.
Thank you for sharing this, Barbara. I think people sometimes forget about things after the initial news reports! It can take a long time to repair and recover from a storm like that. Definitely holding the people and places affected by Hurricane Helene in my prayers.
Thanks so much, April. It’s true–we tend to think everything is back to normal after the storm is over, but it’s going to be a long recovery for many people.
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Hopefully people will connect this severe hurricane and its devastating power to destroy property and take lives as one symptom of climate change. Please wake up those who are sleeping and be proactive in your environmental efforts. Nancy Andres @ Colors 4 Health
And now another hurricane with its cross hairs on Florida!
We’re being challenged to pray and to help!
A member of our church is from Ashville – and he has gotten through the backroads. He’s taking a second load this week. Some of the needs being pointed out are clothing for cold weather. I am stunned by the damage and that a hurricane did so much damage so far in-land. Praying for provision for those suffering, praying for ways to be made – and praying for those in the path of the new hurricane.
Many of the inland areas that were affected are valleys at the base of the Blue Ridge mountains, so that’s one factor–another is that some had received a lot of rain even before the hurricane came. I saw a chart showing that Helene was bigger than Katrina, which hit the New Orleans area several years ago. So even the edges of it had a far reach. I’m glad people are finding ways in to help.
I often wonder how the powers that be prioritize clean up and rebuilding. It’s such a big job! Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone effected.
I have a photo of my husband I standing on a road in Yellowstone that is no longer there. It was washed out in the 2022 flood. They had to go in and carve out more of the mountain to build a new road, a road that my husband I drove at the end of last month. The road is lovely. The once picturesque canyon that runs beside the road looks nothing like it used to. The scars are deep and they will take a long time heal. Creation always has something to teach us.
It does. It’s amazing how God designs nature to adapt and recover.
These hurricanes have been fierce so far this year. I live in SC, but so far I’ve only suffered losing power and some trees falling in safe zones. I am praying for fellow Americans suffering that is for sure. I pray that we have seen the last of these horrible storms!
I was just thinking/praying that this morning–that this would be the last of the hurricanes this season.
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