Pass through flood-damaged towns during post-Hurricane Helen recovery efforts. (Photo provided by Brian Pearce)
Everyone who lives in the mountains of western North Carolina knows that Hurricane Helen has hit hard, destroying entire towns and submerging neighborhoods like Asheville’s River Arts District, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power or power outages. We remember where we were when we lost our water supply.
As of October 14, two weeks after the fateful storm reached western North Carolina via the Gulf of Mexico, there were 95 confirmed deaths from Helen in North Carolina, and many more still in the state. His whereabouts are unknown.
While it may be difficult to grasp such widespread damage, many Piedmont residents have done their best to meet the ever-changing needs of their neighbors to the west.
In Charlotte’s music scene, the reaction was almost instantaneous. Brian Pearce, showrunner of the “Bone Snugs and Harmony” series of popular karaoke events in Snug Harbor on Sept. 28, as the scope of the problems facing Western North Carolinians becomes clearer. He made the call on multiple social media accounts.
“If anyone knows how to get supplies to where they are needed, please let me know. I know several people who are stranded in different parts of the mountain and need supplies as well. I want to help anyone I can. I have a truck, so I’ll move it.”
In addition to donations from Pierce and Snag staff, patrons and other supporters who saw the call to action brought in supplies ranging from diapers to water, food, paper supplies and more. By Oct. 1, the area near the booth and soundboard at the historic Plaza Midwood venue was filled with supplies.
Supplies were loaded at Snug Harbor for Helen’s recovery efforts before being shipped to western North Carolina. (Photo provided by Brian Pearce)
From that point, he and several fellow volunteers were able to use their trucks and trailers to reach Spruce Pine, Little Switzerland, and other areas to deliver relief supplies and offer assistance in the recovery efforts. The effort exemplifies the DIY spirit that has made Snug Harbor a staple of Charlotte’s independent music scene.
Another of Charlotte’s music legends, Andy Fenstermaker, also known as Andy the Doorbum, has taken part in several of these rides, sometimes splitting up and sending himself to places in dire need of supplies. I also traveled.
Read more: Charlotte’s Favorite Doorbum Passes New Milestone (2019)
Andy has deep roots in the Appalachian region, where his family still resides. When I asked him what he was seeing, Andy quickly replied: “I think it’s probably a lot worse than what you’re seeing.”
“Some places were relatively untouched,” he continued. “It depends on where you’re at. It’s like there was a lot of water coming in there. It was like a tsunami coming down the valley. There are places you can drive through, but not much is happening. It doesn’t look like it’s there. Maybe just a few trees down. And then you turn the corner and it looks like the end of the world.”
Focusing first on hard-to-reach and hard-to-reach areas, Fenstermaker is reaching out to contacts in Western North Carolina to update them on which roads are open and where it is safe to travel. He said he started by acquiring it.
He said it’s important to know exactly what the needs are and where they are because needs change from day to day, sometimes before the supplies on the list are compiled.
“I’ve been in contact with people on the ground, primarily at volunteer fire departments, various supply depots, and places where we were trying to get supplies to people. So I’ve been in contact with people on the ground, mostly volunteer fire departments, various supply depots, places where we were trying to get supplies to people. I have contacts. I can call them and I know that what I bring is what they need…that can change multiple times a day. There is.”
As recovery efforts continue, we asked how people in Charlotte can help, and Fenstermaker insisted that organizing is key.
“If you want to help, if you have specific skills to offer, try to find places where there are people on the ground doing those things, or if you can donate supplies and would like to receive them. Find local contacts involved in the process and make sure you are specific in what you offer.
“If you have money to donate, please donate to people you trust or to organizations you trust.I highly recommend community-based mutual aid associations, as their administrative fees are low. There’s very little red tape. They’re getting things directly to people much more quickly. We’ve found that to be the most effective resource.”
Helen’s recovery supplies were gathered at a building in western North Carolina, and supplies from Snug Harbor arrived there. (Photo provided by Brian Pearce)
As people like Pearce and Fenstermaker launch their own DIY efforts, other Charlotte businesses and organizations are also stepping up. Sites like Town Brewing, Divine Barrel Brewing Co., and Great Wagon Distillery accept drop-offs during business hours.
At its annual Confluence Music Conference, held Oct. 9-11, Music Everywhere Charlotte partnered with companies including Live Nation, iHeart Media, Lovin’ Life Music Festival, and Maxx Music. All of these companies donated tickets drawn during Confluence to the following companies: Donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund.
A series of benefit performances have also been announced, with the largest scheduled for October 26th at Bank of America Stadium. Luke Combs, a Huntersville native who had a musical career in Boone, announced a concert in the Carolinas shortly after the hurricane hit. , Eric Church, the Avett Brothers, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow and more. The stadium show sold out quickly after tickets went on sale.
Luke Combs performing at Bank of America Stadium on July 15 (Photo by Jeff Hahn)
Charlotte-based Maxx Music is also offering several benefits, including a portion of proceeds from the Oct. 17 performance at Amp Baranton by Asheville-area-based Steep Canyon Rangers and Ashes & Arrows. Donated to Be Loved. Asheville. Concerts by Ben Rector and Leyland Baxter and Tramples by Turtles and Houndmouth in early October led to more than $15,000 in donations to recovery organizations in western North Carolina.
“Western North Carolina has been hit so hard, and we know that anything can help us recover,” said MaxxMusic owner and founder Greg McCraw. “The Steep Canyon Rangers are based in Asheville and Brevard, and the Ashes & Arrows are also from the Asheville area. They feel this more than we can ever imagine. All of us these days. We are North Carolina Strong and we are doing what we can to help those affected.”
On October 18, the North Carolina Folk Festival announced a Western North Carolina benefit concert featuring Steep.
Canyon Rangers and Holler Choir scheduled for Stephen Tanger Center for the Performing
Art in Greensboro on November 7th. 100% of net proceeds were donated to the North Carolina Arts Foundation Disaster Relief Fund. General ticket sales for the show will begin on October 22nd.
News cycles have been very short these days, but our neighbors in Western North Carolina are just beginning the process of recovery, and it may take several months, in some cases, for them to recover, reopen, and return to some semblance of normalcy. will take several years.
In North Carolina, the North Carolina Disaster Information Center provides the latest information on Hurricane Helen recovery, including ways to help. Visit NC’s website also includes an interactive travel advisory map showing which towns in Western North Carolina are open and which towns and major highways remain closed. Ryan Pitkin contributed reporting to this article.
