Hurricanes are something we are all too familiar with in the Cape Fear region. In my 25 years of living here, I’ve seen my fair share.
When Hurricane Florence ravaged the area in 2018, that was the worst storm I’d encountered. Major roadways were washed away. Many residents had to be rescued from rising floodwaters in their homes. Some people were without power for weeks. We were an island – cutoff from the rest of the world – for days.
As Hurricane Helene swept across the western part of the state a few weeks ago, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the damage our area suffered during Florence. Within a day or two, though, it was clear that things were so much worse in Western North Carolina.
The photos and videos being shared were devastating and heartbreaking. But there have also been stories of heroism and kindness.
Despite dealing with our own historic flooding in parts of New Hanover and Brunswick counties just two weeks before Helene, first-responders, local governments and residents across the region jumped into action to support Western North Carolina. It seemed that everyone with a truck or an airplane was collecting supplies.