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Barr: Hurricane Helene leaves trail of tragedy in western North Carolina

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By Marlene McTigue

Capital Region Independent Media

The devastation from Hurricane Helene was wide ranging in western North Carolina. Contributed photo

The small mountain communities of western North Carolina are still reeling in the wake of Hurricane Helene, a storm being called a “1,000-year event” for its unprecedented destruction.

Entire towns were swallowed, homes obliterated, and lives tragically lost, as rivers rose 30 feet in a matter of hours. For John Barr, a New York-based representative of TCI who traveled there, the devastation in Chimney Rock and surrounding areas has left a lasting impression.

“This wasn’t just a flood; this was Mother Nature reshaping the earth,” Barr said, recounting his second trip to the region. “Hundreds of thousands of tons of earth were removed, foundations swept away, and houses were literally deposited into the river.”

Businesses, homes and entire neighborhoods were devastated by the storm, dubbed a “1,000-year” event. Contributed photo

TRAGIC STORIES FROM THE STORM

The tragedy is etched into the stories of the people who lived through it. One of the most heart-wrenching accounts Barr shared was of a woman in Chimney Rock who refused to evacuate.

“She was in her late 60s, used a walker, and had been in her home for 40 years. When the evacuation notice came, she told her neighbors, ‘Where am I going to go? If the good Lord’s going to take me, He’ll take me here,’” Barr said.

Tragically, the floodwaters engulfed her home, taking her life.

Another story involved a man who had lost his home in the mountains. After walking for four hours to reach the valley, he witnessed a woman in a white Jeep swept away by the surging floodwaters.

“He locked eyes with her as her car was taken into the river,” Barr recounted. “It was the last thing he saw before she disappeared. He told me, ‘I can deal with losing my home, but I can’t get that moment out of my head.’”

Hurricane Helene left destruction in her wake. Contributed photo

ENVIRONMENTAL DEVASTATION

The storm also brought environmental catastrophe. Toxic waters now flow through the rivers, polluted with debris, gasoline, propane tanks, and even human remains. Barr noted that pets separated from their owners during the evacuation wandering the area were drinking from the river and dying within 24 hours.

“The river is orange, filled with the wreckage of people’s lives—mattresses, bathtubs, you name it,” Barr explained. “They’re trying to dredge it, but this cleanup is going to take years.”

Despite the overwhelming destruction, the resilience of the affected communities shines through. One example is Cara and Paul, a couple from the nearby town of Bat Cave who had to be evacuated from their home by helicopter.

Cara, a schoolteacher, and Paul, a retired attorney, have been separated for seven weeks since the hurricane, unable to return to their home. Yet their crew reopened their small restaurant, the Lake Lure Market and Bistro, to provide meals for their community.

“They said, ‘If we cook it, do you think they’ll come?’” Barr shared. “And they did—500 people a day.

John Barr of TCI, third from right, with volunteers from the Chimney Rock Volunteer Fire Department in North Carolina. Contributed photo

AIDING THE EFFORT

Barr’s sister, Kerry Barr O’Connor, CEO of Dress for Success in Charlotte, played a critical role in facilitating aid. Through her connections, Barr and his team were granted access to the disaster zones to help with relief efforts.

TCI of New York made a significant financial contribution to the Chimney Rock Volunteer Fire Department, whose members have worked tirelessly despite their own hardships.

“These are volunteers with full-time jobs, demolishing buildings and digging through debris,” Barr said. “They’re the backbone of their community, just like our firefighters back home in New York.”

Reflecting on the tragedy, Barr emphasized the importance of sharing these stories.

“These aren’t just headlines. These are people’s lives,” he said. “The lady in her home, the man who watched that Jeep get swept away—these stories need to be told. Communities like ours in New York need to hear them because, God forbid, this could happen to us someday.”

Many homes and businesses were damaged beyond repair by the storm. Contributed photo

Barr, who has faced his own personal losses, including a house fire, says the experience has fueled his desire to help.

“I’m blessed to have the resources to be here,” he said. “And I’ll keep coming back. This isn’t just about rebuilding homes—it’s about rebuilding hope.”

For now, the people of western North Carolina face an uphill battle. As Barr said, “They will rebuild. It will take 10 years, but they’ll do it. These communities are resilient because they’re made up of people who care deeply for one another. That’s what will get them through.”

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