72 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com the upstate The mountains of western North Carolina are a lot of things to people of the Lowcountry. To some, they’re a respite from the relentless heat of a swampy Southern summer. To others, they’ve long represented safety. When hurricane season approaches, you plan your mountain escape because the mountains are the high ground for refuge. Safe. Secure. Until they’re not. When Hurricane Helene dumped 2 feet of rain on the mountains of North Carolina in September 2024, dams failed and floods rose. Asheville’s River Arts District, home to local artists’ studios, galleries, cafes and more, filled with 16 feet of water. The road to Chimney Rock State Park washed away, along with the shops and restaurants that lined it. Entire neighborhoods were inaccessible for days, without electricity, water or cell service. It was impossible to find family members, and fear reigned. Until it didn’t. These are stories of strength and resilience from the mountains of western North Carolina. LAYNE & ANNA’S STORY Layne Harvey and Anna Petit moved with their two children from the Lowcountry to Asheville eight Mountain STRONG Hurricane Helene: Western NC responds BY LEAH MOORE An entire roadway blocked by fallen trees in an Asheville neighborhood. Photo courtesy of Layne Harvey.
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