Embedded Files
On September 27, 2024, floodwaters from Hurricane Helene devastated many towns in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. News coverage and aid were both slow and spotty. Communities were forced to band together and rely on each other to start recovery and rebuilding. A year later, those communities are still far from fully recovered. Most will never be the same.
Roger resided in Hot Springs, NC at the time and had lived along the French Broad in Madison County for four years. While fortunate to not suffer material loss, Roger, along with a group of neighbors, experienced being stranded by floodwaters for two days with no power, water, internet, cell phone, or news. When the floodwaters receded enough to wade into town, the damage was heartbreaking to witness. Many people who had gone missing in Asheville were found by search and rescue teams in that Madison County downstream section of the French Broad River. The generosity of everyone who helped or contributed was truly inspirational. The storm uprooted not just countless trees, but peoples' entire lives, as well.
These 1,200+ photos are the record of The Flood of 2024 in Hot Springs, NC (as supplied to FEMA to illustrate the severity of the damage and hasten aid):
In this video, flood waters rise to the point that River Rd. will stay underwater for two days. Stranded residents did not know if the road had sustained damaged until the floodwaters abated.
This 360 video shows the damage to Hot Springs, NC when Roger was first able to get back into town. (You can look around in any direction in this video.)
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse