By Avery Beaton, Assistant Editor
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In wake of the destruction that Hurricane Helene caused, people’s lives have been permanently changed.
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Asheville will likely remain in recovery for several months, and many still struggle with water, power, and internet. Some people got water back a few days ago, though it is entirely undrinkable.
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Chimney Rock, NC was entirely wiped out, and other parts of western North Carolina are still in recovery. Many people were killed, and many others will be found as cleanup efforts continue.
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Locally, Annamaria Fletcher, an English teacher at Boiling Springs High School, located not far from campus, was killed when a tree fell on her house in Inman, SC.
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I live in Boiling Springs, where many people lost power for an extended period.
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All the stop lights were out, and only two grocery stores were open, one of which I work at. Destruction was moderate, but many people were scrambling to feed their families and get gas.
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A professor of mine, who lives in Asheville, had to cancel class the Thursday before the storm due to flooding.
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Everyone on our campus was affected by the storm in some way. Here, three students share their experiences of the devastating hurricane:
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Senior out of work for 10 days due to storm
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Cade Loftis, a senior and communications major, lives off campus in Roebuck and was there when the storm hit.
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That area of Spartanburg got hit hard, he said, with many power lines down, with dozens of trees down all over town. He got power back two weeks after Helene hit and is still experiencing difficulties with Spectrum Internet.
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Loftis also works for radio station 104.1 and was unable to go back to work for ten days due to the lack of power in the building.
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Communications major saw damage at home in Cooley Springs
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Cole Johnson, a junior and communications major, resides in Cooley Springs near Strawberry Hill.
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The destruction there was also rough, according to Johnson.
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“My yard lost about twenty trees, and there’s a road near me that was completely blocked end to end,” Johnson said. They further stated that many houses were hit, and some cars were destroyed.
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Villas resident describes her experience on campus
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Haeli Dragt, a theater performance major, lives on campus in the Villas. She was on campus when the storm hit, woken up by the trees falling outside.
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Students in the dorms struggled due to the lack of power, with people unable to use their IDs to unlock the doors. Many dining areas on campus struggled with feeding students, opting for ham and cheese sandwiches and other items that wouldn’t spoil.
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“A big section of the villas had to be evacuated because a tree fell onto one of the buildings. Nobody got hurt but they’re still fixing things, and people still can’t move back in,” Dragt said. Those students are now temporarily living in the Upstate dorm buildings.
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For those struggling with the effects of Helene, we have an article that lists all the resources available to you, both on and off campus.
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