Stories from the storm: ‘Never Seen Anything Like This’

It’s been more than a week since Hurricane Helene washed away entire communities and left tens of thousands of people with nothing. The American Red Cross is working around the clock with dozens of partners to get help to people as quickly as possible.

During the storm, with floodwaters quickly rising many people faced dangerous situations. In our shelters in North Carolina, survivors describe their experiences. Here are a few of their stories:

Lucky to be here

“I have been here all my life, and I have never seen anything like this.”

Scott Bradburn is from Swannanoa, North Carolina, just one of many communities that were flooded out by Hurricane Helene. “I didn’t really worry about it until I heard people were outside talking. The water was already up to my tires and it was ready to float,” Scott said. “By the time I went back in to get dressed and move my car, it was gone. That river rose so quick.”

But the storm wasn’t over yet, and the water kept rising. “It was all the way up to the ceiling of my second floor. That’s a lot, about 25 feet of water.” Scott and his dog, Midnight were rescued by boats and taken to an emergency shelter.

“Everyone lost their home and I am just looking for some help,” Scott said. “We’re lucky to be here and I hope for nothing but the best for everyone.”

All their belongings gone

“We live in a home that's set up high and we didn't think we’d ever have this kind of a storm,” Mary Collier said. “The water was just like the ocean coming off of the mountain.”

Mary, Mark, and their two grandchildren were in their Fletcher, North Carolina, home when Hurricane Helene hit. “It just kept getting deeper, and before I knew it, the water was up to my knees and then we couldn’t get out,” Mary said. “I have never seen or been in anything like this. It just gushed over the road and came in such a hurry.”

The couple lost all their belongings. Three days later, the smell of sewage and other odors became overwhelming, and they made the choice to leave their home of 24 years. The couple and their grandchildren are staying at one of the many open Red Cross shelters.

“Our neighbor brought us over here to the Agricultural Center because I knew we couldn’t stay home,” Mary said. “We don’t really have family here or friends that live close enough that could come down. My husband and I are just going to have to make a plan so we can rebuild.”

A hurricane refugee and platelet donor

Rebecca Ayres lives in western North Carolina but recently came to donate platelets at the Charlotte Blood Donation Center. She and her family were on vacation when they learned about Hurricane Helene becoming a major storm and how severe it was going to be.

“I am a hurricane refugee right now,” Rebecca said. “I am staying with my daughter here in Charlotte until I can get back home. We just got water back on in my neighborhood. I am waiting for things to get back to normal before I go back.”

She explained her family came home early from vacation and only got as far as her daughter's house before checking the weather again and seeing it was set to directly hit the Asheville area.

“It’s surreal because you are used to the power going out and once in a while the water may go out, but when there’s no internet or cell service, people get completely cut off,” Rebecca said. “I feel very fortunate to be here. I hear the Red Cross is there helping, and I am grateful for that.”

Regarding her platelet donation, Rebecca said, “It helps substitute for all the people that can’t come in Asheville because of the hurricane. I know with the lack of communication and lack of gas, many donors will not be able to make it to donate. There is always a need for blood and platelets, but particularly now, it’s important for people who can get to safe centers to go out and donate.”