A Hurricane in the Mountains—#NotOnMyBingoCard

Having just experienced Hurricane Helene, right here in the mountains of North Carolina, where hurricanes are practically unheard of, I find myself swimming in a complex sea of emotions.

What I’m finding a week later is facing those raw emotions, recognizing human nature, and learning what truly matters. 

We had no warning—just a forecast of a storm, “remnants,” of a hurricane, but not an actual hurricane. No one expected the full force of a category 4 hurricane to come barreling into our quiet little hamlet. 

We were stunned, to say the least. But like any crisis, this experience left behind valuable life lessons I’m leaning into, navigating the aftermath one day at a time.

1. The Duality of Humanity

One of the first things I’ve observed is just how incredible—and how disappointing—people can be during a crisis. I witnessed acts of selflessness that restored my faith in humanity. Neighbors helping neighbors without hesitation, my husband going door to door to help the elderly and widowed, bringing gas, food, and water, starting generators, and doing wellness checks. People coming together in a way that was deeply moving.

But on the flip side, there were the selfish and entitled—complaining about trivial inconveniences, noises from generators, and “all those people” driving through our community. A few holier than thou’s who showed up with vile conspiracy theories and declarations of divine punishment, because why not? Kick ‘em when they’re down—this is “God’s will”. 

2. The Givers and the Takers

Hurricane Helene brought out the stark contrast between givers and takers. There were grocery stores with police guarding their doors, protecting the rotting food and melting ice, while the grocery store chain across the street swung their doors wide open, using the honor system if they didn’t have the cash to make sure people were fed and had what they needed. 

The metaphor extends to people as well—there are those who take more than they need as witnessed by my daughter Caroline. She went to a Costco in Charlotte (thinking it was a better bet for supplies than here) and a woman with a gigantic amount of toilet paper was asked if she was taking it all to Asheville to help with the relief efforts. She said no. Overheard on another aisle were some Charlotteans saying they needed to get the bottled water before the relief workers took it for the folks in Asheville. 

Let’s be clear–there was no hurricane in Charlotte. They may have had a storm but their communities weren’t wiped out like they were here in Western North Carolina.

And as discouraging as those overheard conversations might be, there are those who give everything they have to help. 

It’s easy to focus on the takers, but the givers shine so brightly, that they remind us that community and compassion are what really matter.

3. The Power of Minimizing and Dismissing

Another thing I experienced was the minimizers—people who dismiss the trauma of what happened with phrases like, “Well, at least you didn’t lose your house,” or, “At least you have a generator.” Yes, I didn’t lose my house. Yes, I didn’t even have a branch fall from the trees surrounding my home. And yes, our biggest inconvenience has been a lack of electricity these last 7 days.

But here’s the thing: it’s okay to not be okay. Even when you’re one of the fortunate ones, the trauma of the experience still lingers. Trees crashing through your neighbor’s house, landslides wiping out an entire part of the mountain—it was terrifying. But as I sit in my home, hosting friends and neighbors, cooking hodgepodge meals from what is left in our fridges and freezers, I remind myself that even though we made it through, it’s still okay to feel shaken. It’s still okay to admit you were affected by all of it.

4. The Strength of Community and Resilience

Our community came together like never before. The resilience we built, the connections we strengthened, and the compassion we showed one another during this time made us stronger than ever. In moments like these, we’re reminded that we are all just walking each other home, as the poet Rumi so beautifully says.

My husband exemplified this with his selfless actions—taking care of those who couldn’t take care of themselves. His dedication to making sure our elderly neighbors were safe and had what they needed was a powerful reminder of how love and community can carry us through even the darkest times. And, after he was done taking care of our closest neighbors, he did well checks throughout the Cedar Mountain community as a volunteer firefighter going door to door, offering water, MRE’s and making sure all was well.

5. The Cleanup and Recovery

The storm may have passed, but the cleanup remains. Physically, there’s still so much to do—fallen trees, landslides, damaged homes—but there’s also the emotional cleanup. Processing what happened, coming to terms with the trauma, and finding our way back to some semblance of normalcy. 

I am blessed to be physically unscathed, but emotionally, I’m still a little rattled. I know I will find my way back to feeling okay, but for now, my focus is on my friends and family, having conversations that go beyond the hurricane, and connecting with each other’s humanity. My kitchen will stay forever open–the table is big enough and there’s always something to share.

Gratitude In the Midst of Chaos

Despite everything, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Gratitude for my community, for the selfless acts of kindness I witnessed, for the strength we all showed, and for the way we all stepped up. It’s easy to feel consumed by fear or frustration during times like these, but instead, I choose to lean into the gratitude I feel for making it through.

The storm may have knocked us down, but it didn’t break us. We’re still standing, still caring for one another, and still finding ways to lift each other up.

Some Final Thoughts

Living through a hurricane has taught me lessons I never expected. 

I’ve seen the best and worst in people, witnessed resilience like never before, and learned that it’s okay to not be okay. There’s strength in vulnerability and healing in community. 

As we continue to recover, I will carry these lessons with me, knowing that we can face any storm as long as we do it together. And while I may still be finding my way back to “normal,” my heart is full of love for my community, my family and friends, and gratitude for all the lessons. 

We made it through, and for that, I am forever grateful.

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3 Responses

  1. And THIS is why I love you dearly as a friend! THIS is what being a superlative human is all about!!! Community, service, gratitude, kindness, and a willingness and courage to do hard things says it all. THANK YOU for putting it so beautifully into words!!!❤️🙏🤗💥

  2. Leanne,
    Valuable lessons, beautiful lessons. The minimizing….. that made my alarm bells go off. I do that to myself, “at least you’re not this or that.”
    It’s punishing myself for being ungrateful.
    I hear people say it to others too, “at least you have this, are this, are not that”.
    It is taking away how they feel, it adds shame and is a reprimand and stating they should be grateful somehow.
    Leanne, sharing your lessons has taught me my own lesson, that I minimize myself. I wanted you to know. And to thank you for sharing. I’ve read your piece a couple times. Among other awesome things, You’re such an excellent writer! Thank you.

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