Hurricane Helene Archive

Stories

The Hurricane Helene Archive brings together a collection of media contributed by community members, researchers, and historians. Use this page to explore firsthand accounts, images, and documents that offer insight into the storm, its impacts, and recovery efforts.

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  Interview of Kat Perry

  All right, we're rolling. Good afternoon, Kat. My name is Janice Pope, and I'm here today to interview you, Kat Perry. It is September 20th, 2025, about 1230, and we're recording this interview at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. I'm going to interview you as part of an oral history project documenting personal experiences and memories of Hurricane Helene. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story with us today. You're welcome. Thank you. So to begin with, just tell us a little bit about yourself and your ties to this area. Okay. I have lived here about 13 years. I went to the local university at Washington State University in the 70s, and my husband and I have come back and forth many, many years. And then we bought our house in 2016. So I'm very familiar with the area. At the time of the hurricane, we lived on the golf course in Blowing Rock. We have since sold that home, but last year during the hurricane, that is where we were living. And it is about 4,000 in elevation feet, 4,000 feet in elevation. And what was your experience of the storm in that house? Well, it rained and rained and rained. And it's not that it rained ferociously or harder than I've ever seen it. It just lasted and lasted and continued for hours. And so our house set down off of the road. And at the top of our driveway is a drain. And that drain in just normal rains clogs up. It's not very big. It probably should be larger, but it clogs up. It will cause a flooding kind of water down our driveway, which could go into our garage. So my husband and I were keeping an eye on that drain, and about every 30 minutes we would go out and clear it. And that way we were circumventing the flood. And then I decided that I was going to walk around the neighborhood, which was very small. It's a small neighborhood, just two streets to check on neighbors and make sure that they were okay. This was probably after it had been raining two hours. And so that's what I did. Unbeknownst to us, my husband and I, we had no idea what the larger consequence of all the rain was going to be, or maybe even was at that point. So the next day, well, okay, back up. We didn't, we never lost power. Wow. But we did lose internet, which caused me to about lose my mind. And I had to reckon myself with the fact that a lot of what we do is on the internet, and that we didn't get good sales service at our home. So we had to Wi-Fi call, so we couldn't call out. We weren't getting texts. We couldn't text out. And so when the rain subsided, we decided that we would find some spot that had some internet, and it was the food line and parking lot. And so we went and we, so many friends from all over were asking, how are you? So that sort of was our first indication that things were being reported and we're not good. So we felt isolated in a way. In not knowing. So the next day, we were in the food line, parking lot, because we would go periodically. And I saw a fellow town council member and a couple of other people we knew, and they were saying that it was really bad. And so my husband and I drove to Hickory to Sam's and bought a lot of water. We didn't know what else to do. To help. And we came back and just across the street here from Braum is the Presbyterian Church. And they have a food pantry. And so we decided we would take water there. And they had already gotten so many supplies that they couldn't take anymore. And they were looking for another place to move all of their pantry items that would hold them. And so I started helping them try to locate. And so I got involved in that. And later that day, they were able to locate a secondary spot. And then we went over to the American Legion and saw that that had already gotten to be a pretty smoothly operated endeavor to collect supplies and things. So but, you know, it wasn't until much later that we knew and from hearing stories that people had lost their lives and there were mudslides and some friends of ours who lived outside of Boone near Meek Camp. Were up on a hill. They have a lot of acres, close to 50 acres, but up from them behind them at the top of the hill, a house had slid down in a mudslide and all four people who were in the house died. So that, you know, is just it's so strange because in a way blowing rocks seem to be sort of spared. Like we were in a bubble. I mean, we didn't lose power. There are a lot of people who did. But then just miles from us. Total devastation and the mudslide consequence and aftermath of the storm was just devastating. It really was. It was. I think that nobody anticipated that there would be mudslides like that. How could you predict it? And so it's just awful in terms of, you know, that is what got this whole area of the western part of the state. It wasn't flooding as much as what's like. It's just it moved the earth. Of course, the water moved the earth. And it happened so quickly. Yes. Yeah. Without warning. Yeah, that's right. Exactly. How did you feel your community responded to the storm? I felt like we responded splendidly. I mean, I really do. I mean, from the very beginning, people just rolled their sleeves up and found out what was needed and chipped in. It was almost like just spontaneous. It was. Yeah, it really was. Would there or can you tell me about any meaningful acts of kindness or community like that that you experienced or witnessed? Well, I. Quite a few people were taking supplies long distances and filling up vans and trucks and they were going long distances for months, months. And and I just felt like, you know, I didn't do very much as compared to many, many people. What do you think? So you're on the Blue and Blue and Rock Town Council, right? Is there anything y'all are doing in the wake of the storm to think about how you would prepare for a future event like this? Yeah, not interesting. Yeah. Maybe that's because you didn't have the effects as badly here in town. Maybe. Yeah. Do you feel or how do you feel changed by this event? Do you feel changed by this event in any way? Absolutely. Absolutely. I just. Oh, well. I mean, my heart goes out to all of the people who lost loved ones or neighbors and. In places that are isolated somewhat because you have a lot of that in the mountains. I feel. You know that that we all need to look out for each other. It has given me more of a sense of community on a larger scale than just my neighborhood or whatever that these these things can happen. I mean, you think, well, we're not going to get an earthquake or tornado or hurricane. I mean, who would have thought that our part of the state would experience a hurricane and actually blow and rock had a tornado a couple of days before the. We did. So it's. I guess I mean, these things are unpredictable. And. Having some sense of community and knowing that that we can get organized quickly means a lot. And we've given in the library club and our our slogan is. Others before sale service before sale. And we've given a lot of money to charities and also organizations that were very involved in trying to rebuild. That's good. Yeah. Everybody plays a role. Yes. Yeah. So what are your hopes for the future with regard to this event? If there are ways you wish things would be different or better or whatever. Well, I think, gosh, if if there was any way to have a better. Emergency. Announcement system. I have I can't get my brain around what that would be or what it would look like. But that to me is. And maybe already have organizations that are just ready and prepared. With supplies for those who get cut off from. Their town or whatever. But really, that is a very difficult question. And I hope somebody who knows more than I do. Is working on emergency notification systems. But in the mountains you have particular challenges because of the train and. I was reading a series that a journalist did. She was in Columbia, South Carolina, I think, and then came up and interviewed quite a few people that were out from the Spruce Pine area. Mitchell County. Yes. And. Really describing. I mean, it's like they had no clue and they then they went out on their porch and then they were just washed away. One of them survived. Maybe the other one didn't. And so in those kind of. They're not even remote. You wouldn't consider that remote. But in those areas, how do you get information to people if you can't. Text or. You know. Yeah, you have no electricity and no cell phone signal. Yeah, yeah. I don't know what could be done if anything. I mean, it was sort of a phenomenal. Happening occurrence and. A phenomenon and we don't know if it'll ever happen again. Could. It would happen once it could happen again. So I don't know. I think that being prepared means so many different things. It means. There's a woman in the Rotary Club who. Used to be an emergency first responder and she. Showed us at one of the meetings all these things that you can buy to put in like a case. That would provide certain things if you were in an emergency situation. I mean like washcloths that are that small and when you add them then they become. I mean it's just. It's very. Materials are out there. Equipment is out there. And I don't know if even if people have had emergency kits like that if it would have addressed what they needed. Because it was just. Yeah. Well is there anything else you'd like to share with me anything you know that we haven't talked about. No I just. Story core and I think that. I was telling our story even though you know my wasn't like severe still adds to the context. For people to understand somewhat. You know what happened. Thank you. Yes and I do think that. You know you talked about this journalist. And so often I think what happens is that we have what we call parachute journalism where you know the national state journalists show up they cover an event like this and then they leave. And yet here are all the stories. Real people and how. They have been responding and recovering and you know. I think it matters a lot. And we appreciate you taking the time to come. Well my pleasure. My pleasure. Thank you. Me too.
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  Interview of Stacey Rex

  Stacey is a dedicated member to her community. She shares about her experiences with cleanups, food delivery, and other service after Helene
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  gus story

  gus tells his story leading up to hurricane, during and his efforts after
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  Appalachian Professors' View on Hurricane Helene

  In this interview, Debbie Polous shares her story of what it meant to be a professor at Appalachian State following Hurricane Helene. She shares her insight on how the university helped students in and out of the classroom.
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  Interview with Don Cox

  Interview with Don Cox on his experience with Hurricane Helene
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  A First-Hand Account of Hurricane Helene -- Interview with Tanner Woods

  Interview Summary: Tanner Woods, a senior at Appalachian State University, shared his story of experiencing Hurricane Helene. Before the storm, life in Boone felt normal. The town was growing, new buildings were going up, and people didn’t think a hurricane would ever reach the mountains. Tanner said he didn’t prepare much because he thought the storm would only hit the southern states. When it started to get serious, his roommate left early, but Tanner waited too long and ended up leaving while the storm was already happening. He remembered power going out, heavy winds shaking his building, and rain pounding on his window. He quickly packed his things and had to walk through fallen trees and deep water to get to his car, all while the storm was raging. He drove home in dangerous conditions, passing flooded cars on the way. After the storm, his apartment was damaged with water leaks and a large hole in the wall. He said Boone looked destroyed, trees were down, buildings were damaged, and the town felt empty and sad. Tanner said the biggest needs after the storm were food, water, and safety. He remembered how people in Boone came together, handing out food and helping others who lost things. He said the storm made everyone more caring and connected, especially between students and locals. Living through it changed the way he sees his home and community. He now feels more thankful for what he has and wants to be better prepared for future storms. He said his hope comes from seeing how kind and strong people in Boone became during the recovery. Interview Transcript: Interviewer: Morgan Brinegar Interviewee: Tanner Woods Morgan: To begin, tell me a little about yourself and your ties to the storm and your community. Tanner: My name is Tanner Woods. I'm a senior here at App State. Morgan: What's life usually like here before everything changed with hurricane Helene? Tanner: In my opinion, things are pretty normal, just nothin’ out of the ordinary, you know, just construction on campus, new things being built up. I'd say the community was kind of growing before the storm came in. Morgan: Okay, so here's some questions about before the storm. When you first heard that Helene was heading this way, what went through your mind? Tanner: I didn't think it was gonna hit us. I mean, I honestly thought it was just going to impact, like, Florida and Georgia, like the Southern states. But then, where I saw that it was kind of making its way up here. I honestly didn't prepare at all. I just didn't think of it hit us because of the mountains and all, but I was wrong. Morgan: All right. How did you and roommates or neighbors get ready once you realized it was serious? Tanner: Uh, well, my roommate took more precaution. He left and went home. I think as soon as it, like, hit. I don't know, maybe like, when it just had gotten to North Carolina. I don't know, maybe it was the closest state or whatever, but he left pretty early, say, a few days earlier, than when it hit. I wasn't prepared at all, so I left like in the middle of it. Or, like, right before it started to get real bad, but it was still pretty bad. Trees had fallen at that point, and roads were kind of washed away. Except for, thankfully the highway I needed to take home. I mean, it was very rainy and dangerous, but the roads were, you know, intact, so I was able to just safely get home. Morgan: That's good. So, looking back, do you feel like you had enough warning or resources to prepare? Tanner: Um. There was definitely a lot of warnings, but resources to prepare, I'm not really sure. I feel like it kind of hit everybody by surprise. I think resources were very limited up here. I mean, they had that fundraiser or donations of them sending like care packages up here because we didn't have enough. So, I mean, that just kind of showed that we wasn't really prepared for resources, but we did have warnings that it was coming, I guess we just never thought it was gonna hit the mountains like it did. Morgan: All right, well, here's some questions about during the storm. I kind of want you to tell your story now. So, can you walk me through what the experience was like for you, like where were you and what was happening around you? And I guess what, like, what did you, what was, what was your story? Tanner: I was in my room, the next thing you know, like, the power kind of went out. So I was like, okay. Well, my phone was kind of like not really charged to us, so I kind of was freaking out that my phone was going to die and this storm's coming. All you hear is like, my window is kind of like smacking and you could feel like the room. I don't know. I wouldn't say really shaken as much, but you could feel like the wind pushing and hitting hard against, well, and the water hitting hard against the building. And I kind of just had to make a quick decision, too. I just packed up as much as I could. Everything that I thought was valuable, because I didn't really expect to come back for a long time because of the storm at that point. So I just packed up everything and I had a run to my car that was 20 minutes away in another parking lot, and had to hike through the storm to get there. And on the way there, the walk is through, the walk is through a trail to get to the lot, and that trail I take, the trees have fell, so I had to climb over trees in crocs to get to my car. So like, my socks was all soaked and my feet, my clothes were all, like, nasty, and then after I had already got home and kind of chilled and debriefed, the next day, I think, we had got called and said that like our room had damage in it, and some things. Some of my roommates's valuables was messed up. Some of myself got messed up, but it wasn't really nothing valuable. I could easily just throw away stuff. But they had to cut a hole in our room because we had, like pipe damage and water in our walls and, like flooded throughout. It was a pretty stressful time. I didn't know if I was gonna have, like, a place to come back to and stay when I came back. If we was able to come back. Morgan: Was there a moment during the storm that you'll never forget? Tanner: Probably driving out of Boone during the storm. Like you see cars kind of driving. I just saw, like, one car completely, like, it was flooded out, like, it was no way it was going being able to be driven. The water had already got that high, but I had already got up on a hill, so I didn't even get to hit it, but you can just tell that that car had been there for a minute sitting there in that water. So, I mean, it was just scary for all people driving home, too. I mean, like, I live an hour and a half away, but I think it took me three hours to get there, because I drove as slow as I could. Morgan: Okay. Now, here's some questions about kind of after the storm. What did you see or feel the first time you stepped outside after the storm passed? Tanner: Uh, Boone was dead. It looked awful. It was just... I don't know, everything, the trees were all destroyed, the roads are messed up, businesses and buildings were all, it just looked like a like a ghost town, and then people were still trying to help build a community and get it all back, but you can tell we just needed a little more help. It was just very depressing and sad after the storm. Morgan: Okay, um, what were the first few days, like, in Boone? Like, what needed attention right away? Tanner: Hm. I think, like, food supply was a big thing that needed attention, just getting food out to everybody. And like, there was like reports of drownings and stuff. I'm not sure necessarily. I guess in the Boone, Blowing Rock area or the Asheville area, but like, I know that was a thing people was talking about. I know that was a big thing that needed to be focused on was trying to help anybody that could have been any help or was trapped anywhere. I think food and just peoples security as well, just, like, overall, just trying to rejuvenize and build Boone back up again, because it was completely destroyed. Morgan: Yeah. And sorry to interrupt, but, like, I guess plus food, you got water. People lost their housing, people lost their courses. I remember one of my classes had to get canceled, because it was in Rankin science and that, like, the whole floor was like destroyed. Tanner: Destroyed. Morgan: So we had to get moved online. That's just tons of money, if you think about it. Tanner: Yeah, a lot of people's educations and just overall living was impacted. Morgan: Yeah. All right, sorry. All right. Who or what helped the most during those first recovery months? Tanner: I'd say just active Boone community members. I know, like, of course, like, the police, fire department, and first responders and stuff like that, but there's a lot of donations and stuff and like, fly over, like, airdrop type things happening. I don't know, but that really did help a lot, that helped dish out a lot of resources and material, to not only here, but like Blowing Rock and Asheville and any other places in the nearby area that was impacted. Morgan: All right, here's some questions about community, and I guess more about recovering and all of that stuff. So how have people in your community supported one another since then? Tanner: They're more giving, and they're more, I'd say, understanding, because I say like, especially the community of Boone’s bonded, like, more together. I'd say, like. the students are more active in the community of Boone, not just the school community, because everybody was impacted by Helene the same. So, like, all very giving and appreciative of everything. I remember people was giving out food for free, just to give it out because they knew people needed it. So, I mean, like.. I just say appreciates another more. Morgan: Yeah. What changes have you noticed? Like, either in the landscape, the people, or the way things work now? Tanner: I'd say, a lot of construction, but a lot of it was already rebuilt and kind of polished up. Boone's looking nice again. I'd say landscape wise, like, besides, you know, buildings and facilities, like, the forest has, you know, revived. Like it was destroyed, and a lot of mudslides and stuff like that, but it's all kind of cleared out and it took a lot of work, but a lot of people made Boone look like Boone again. Morgan: Yep. Okay, here's some, I guess, reflection and closing questions, but just because they're “closing questions,” please just take your time and stuff. Don't rush. We have his all the time in the world. So. How was living through Hurricane Helene, or, how has living through Hurricane Helene changed the way you see your home or your community? Tanner: Uh.. It made me and honestly made me, like, not appreciate my home as much up here and boom as much as it. Like, I get more homesick now, I guess, because like, nothing's like home, like my house and my real home didn't get damaged from the hurricane, except for, like, small tree did fall on it, but it didn't cost too much damage. So, but in comparison to my room up here, that was damaged, I don't know. It just felt like it could get all taken away from you very suddenly and quickly. So it just made me, I just got more homesick after that. Like, I just wanted to be home more. That was my issue. Morgan: Wait, did you say during Hurricane Helene, a tree fell on your house back where you're from, Mount Airy? Tanner: Yeah. Morgan: So you was affected not only in Boone, North Carolina. You were also affected in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Tanner: Yeah. Morgan: Wow. I'm sorry. If another storm were to come, what would you do differently next time? Tanner: Um, I would just have a lot of my valuable stuff, like, packed up, like, still quickly accessible, but also in a place where I can quickly pack them up and get them ready to go. Maybe pack a lot of food and water. And honestly, I'd probably just beat out the storm, go wherever it's not, honestly. Morgan: What gives you hope as your community continues to rebuild and move forward? Tanner: I mean, I see it every day, just everybody's just friendly with one another. That kind of gives me hope. There's no anger, animosity. that you feel in the community. Everyone's kind of just friendly and connects with one another on whatever level it may be. So I feel like everyone's just very understanding and friendly to one another. Morgan: Could you kind of retell, I guess not retell, but is there anything you want to add? Tanner: They did fix my room though. It took about… Morgan: Yeah, I remember you saying your room was damaged until the last week of school. Tanner: Yeah, like the final exam week, the room was finally fixed. We had a big, like, I wouldn't even say it was a hole, because it was bigger than a hole. It was about a six foot, about four foot hole in the freaking, well, I guess six about a six foot hole, it was a big, it was like a door frame hole in our wall. Morgan: Kind of like a little Coraline door. Tanner: Yeah. Morgan: Actually probably bigger. Like us and our neighbors could easily just, we can hear everything, talk to each other. It was not cool. And it, like. With the wall being exposed like that, and the water was still in there, it made it smell. It was nasty. Didn't like it... Didn't want to be in my room as much. That also added to me wanting to go home. Morgan: Were any of your classes or anything affected? Tanner: Uh, majority of them just got moved online. Um. A lot of, like, assignments got called off and just said that, y'all just study, we'll just take the final exam online… type of thing. Majority just got moved online, zooms and stuff. About a lot of times, they’d not require zooms because teachers would be, you know, they're dealing with their lives, too, their lives are impacted too, so they got things they're dealing with. So a lot of times it's just independent work. You had to turn it in by a certain time, so, school at that time was very easy, but it's not really the school your wanting to, It's not the school... Morgan: Not the immersiveness… Tanner: Experience, it's not the experience you want. Morgan: Yeah. I understand that. Luckily, for me, I lived at App Heights, and you know, that's up that really big hill. We weren't touched by any flooding or anything, but definitely the walks, like the trails were disgusting. And, I don't know. I'm just so, I'm so sorry that happened to you. Tanner: Everything's good. Everything got fixed, and the communities growing again, so. Morgan: Yeah. Well, is there anything else you want to add, or? Tanner: I don't know. I can't think of really anything else, to be honest.
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  Interview of an App State Student

  This is an audio interview between two Appalachian State students who experienced Hurricane Helene firsthand.
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  Helene interview

  An interview done with someone who was directly effected by hurricane Helene, going into detail about her emotional and physical journey