MITCHELL COUNTY, NC – The sound of the water flowing in Mitchell County might make it seem like everything is okay, but as soon as you look around, you realize it’s anything but that.
“It’s frustrating…heartbreaking,” said Darren Buchanan, a local block mason, who’s been dedicating his time to help his neighbors in Mitchell County rebuild.
Over six months ago, Helene swept through the area, taking homes, bridges, businesses, and even human lives. Half a year later, things are about as settled as the temporary gravel roads that now run along the Toe River. A body of water, locals say, turns dark brown now even with the slightest bit of rain. With the banks of the river now eroded and the trees uprooted, there’s nothing to catch the exposed soil from running in…