Former Paso Robles locals on the front lines of Hurricane Helene recovery
Two weeks after flooding, residents near Waynesville, North Carolina begin to salvage what they can. Photo by Becky Zelinski.
– Former Paso Robles locals, Becky and Lowell Zelinksi thought long and hard before choosing their new home in Waynesville, North Carolina. One of their main reasons for choosing the quiet, picturesque community in the Smoky Mountains was the low risk of natural disasters.
Early this year they packed up and settled in to enjoy the beauty of their new corner of the world. That was until two weeks ago when unexpectedly and unprecedentedly Hurricane Helene stormed into the Appalachian Mountains and washed away homes, entire towns and lives.
“Western North Carolina is known for no tornados, fires, earthquakes, or hurricanes,” said Becky Zelinski. “The mountains generally protect us from disasters but this time they were a major contributor to it.”
According to authorities, the rugged mountain terrain that surrounds the hundreds of rivers, lakes and streams throughout the region received up to 30 inches of rain and winds more than 100 mph, contributing to the catastrophic flooding and loss.
“It was like COVID without phones or internet. It was pretty scary not knowing what was going on around us and having no way to let friends and family know we were okay. It got even scarier as we started hearing reports of Asheville underwater and towns washed away. Since we’d had little damage and couldn’t go out, we couldn’t believe what we were hearing,” Becky said.
Most cellular and internet networks went down. The only communication from the outside world were local radio stations that managed to get back on the air within 24 hours after the storm, due to heroic efforts by locals and the stations to bring in generators and satellite networks.
The iHeart media took over the airwaves and became the only way locals knew what was going on. The stations aided rescue efforts, broadcast official updates and alerts, and connected people with the help they needed when there was no other way to do it.
As soon as the Zelinskis were able to go out and learn where they were needed, they rolled up their sleeves and started helping. They’ve been volunteering at distribution centers, helping people with cell and internet issues and volunteering at a community kitchen in Asheville.
Rocky Broad River, clogged with debris from the former town of Chimney Rock, North Carolina. Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits, Getty Images.
Reaching out
One of the Zelinski’s favorite places has completely vanished. Chimney Rock Village, about 40 miles southeast of their home, was a beautiful, popular tourist destination located in the Chimney Rock State Park. The Rocky Broad River flooded through Chimney Rock and into Lake Lure, an area also famous for the sets of movies such as “The Last of the Mohicans” and “Dirty Dancing.”
“It’s just gone,” Lowell said. “Not just the homes but every building next to the river, The roads in and out of the area are destroyed, and all of the debris washed down the river into the lake. It’s just so sad. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
The Zelinskis have never been in a disaster of this magnitude but said they now realize what effects it has and how big the effort will be to overcome it. Two weeks after the storm, there are still thousands of people without power and water, roads and bridges closed, businesses boarded up, and many people still stranded up in the mountains with help slowly arriving due to destroyed roads and difficult access.
“FEMA, the DOT, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, the DOJ; they’re all here and have been since before Helene hit,” Becky said. “We’ve listened to their reports and responses to the media and the people. We’ve seen pictures of them in our local newspapers and we’ve personally seen the troops and agents on the ground and in the air, working around the clock.”
With devastation all around, the Zelinskis are reassured by all of the rescue efforts that the federal, state and local governments had put into place before the storm, and how quickly more were deployed. Directed by FEMA, the National Guard along with state and local forces were rescuing people from the floods as early as 4 a.m. on the day of the storm. They also had water and food distribution sites set up and partnerships arranged with local agencies to get help to people.
People’s possessions lie in heaps along the roads in Clyde, NC where the Pigeon River rose approximately 20 feet and a half-mile wide. Photo by Becky Zelinski.
“The weather is starting to turn cold and thousands of people are living outside in tents or in homes without power or heat. Our emergency services director said there’s a shortage of propane tanks, cook stoves and heaters and people are in desperate need right now.”
That’s why the Zelinskis created the “Heat for Helene Survivors in North Carolina” GoFundMe fundraiser. The goal is to raise $16,000 to purchase 100 propane cookstoves, heaters and tanks to give to the people in need. These items are impossible to find locally, so the Zelinskis have to purchase them online or procure them from outside of the area.
“We had so many people asking if we needed anything or what they could do to help. This is our answer. People’s contributions will help alleviate some of the hardship people are experiencing right now,” said Becky.
To donate and for more information, visit Heat for Helene Survivors in North Carolina.
Lowell and Becky Zelinksi, enjoying their new neighborhood before Hurricane Helene.
