<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0xjSnA_0wOPAWqa00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0xjSnA_0wOPAWqa00" width="1100" height="734" ><figcaption>Graphic by Lori Deaton</figcaption></figure>Editor’s note: Xpress is asking readers to share their experiences of Tropical Storm Helene. This is one of those stories.While Helene was visiting our home in Black Mountain, my husband and I were waking up in sunny Crested Butte, Colo. More than 1,600 miles away from Helene’s wrath, I was attending a work conference on the perfect fall day. The juxtaposition of the weather made my heart sick.As the news rolled in that fateful Friday morning, conference attendees asked if our home was OK. “I don’t know,” I’d respond while stoically keeping it together. What we did know was that the situation looked horrific, the power was off, and our neighbors weren’t responding.Existing in a world that is normal when your community is falling apart feels like it’s stretching your soul in opposite directions. Watching the videos and pictures brought me to tears. I felt grateful to not be there, and I felt guilty for not being there, as well as overwhelmed for the community and hopeful through the generosity of strangers.While we bided our time in Colorado, waiting for the “right moment” to fly home, we bellied up to a bar in Winter Park and met a lovely family who had moved to the area from Georgia. They shared their condolences and experience surviving the 2020 East Troublesome Fire. Colorado’s second-largest wildfire ravaged nearly 200,000 acres over 48 days, taking down 555 structures in its path, including homes and dreams.They noted the kindness of strangers, survivor guilt — and how donations are great, but if you don’t have a home, there’s nowhere to store them. They talked about it through wide eyes and healing heart scars, reminding us that life will evolve and our communities will rebuild stronger.Twelve days after Helene’s attack, we arrived home, shaken by the damage we witnessed on the drive but grateful to be back with our community to share the joys and burdens of rebuilding together.— Olivia WardBlack MountainThanks for reading through to the end…We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.Older PostLetter: A look at Edwards and Rudow, post-HeleneNewer Post Letter: Church creates welcoming hub after stormThe comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.<h2>Leave a Reply </h2>To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Letter: Witnessing the disaster unfold from afar

Editor’s note: Xpress is asking readers to share their experiences of Tropical Storm Helene. This is one of those stories. While Helene was visiting our home in Black Mountain, my husband and I were waking up in sunny Crested Butte, Colo. More than 1,600 miles away from Helene’s wrath, I was attending a work conference on the perfect fall day. The juxtaposition of the weather made my heart sick.