Reflections on the Hurricane Helene Aftermath and Finding Light in the Darkest Corners

Last week, I traveled to Ashe County, North Carolina where Hurricane Helene had left scars on the landscape that words cannot capture. Once tiny, thriving villages were now barely recognizable, with many unincorporated communities essentially wiped off the map. Walking through the destruction, I couldn’t fathom the devastation. The scale of loss is unimaginable, yet, in the midst of this wreckage, I witnessed an outpouring of love and support from locals and strangers far and wide that left me humbled and reminded me what an incredibly generous and beautiful country the United States of America is and will continue to be.

The aftermath of Hurricane Helene isn’t just a story of destruction. It’s a story of human resilience and the power of community, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, silver linings emerge. Whether in a war zone or amid a natural disaster, I’ve often found solace in this. It’s a thread I cling to—one of survival and hope.

Roads have become rivers, homes are surrounded by debris, and most residents have been left without water or electricity. Some have been isolated for days, cut off from the rest of the world as the storm buried routes under trees and wreckage. Yet, amid the chaos, I witnessed volunteers— neighbors, strangers, and even children—coming together to make it through another day.

Still, when I sit quietly, it isn’t without a lot of confusion and heartache. Every day, social media is flooded with pictures of the missing—both young and old—alongside desperate pleas from families seeking information.

One shared story sticks with me: A volunteer found a young woman who had just given birth six days earlier in the middle of the storm. Alone.