RED HILL, N.C. – James Waters observed as Helene’s fierce winds and heavy rains ravaged his farm in the Appalachian hills of North Carolina, uprooting trees, tearing down fences, and triggering landslides.

“The entire mountainside collapsed,” he recounted. “It left the valley flooded with mud.”

It took him a whole day to clear a path to the main road using a farm excavator. He encountered downed power lines, branches, thick mud, and various debris scattered on the roads. In some places, cars had been washed into ditches. A neighbor discovered a body near a riverbank, he mentioned.

Without cell service or electricity, residents were left uncertain about the fate of their family members. Waters recognized the extent of the recovery that lay ahead but felt grateful his family had survived. He picked up his chainsaw to assist in clearing debris and checking on his neighbors.

On Sunday afternoon, Waters drove his muddy white Chevy pickup—equipped with an 8,000-watt generator—to a darkened general store in Red Hill, a small community located near Bakersville amidst steep hills.

The store, managed by Kacie Smith, 28, and her father, serves as a central gathering place. Outside, two soda machines stood by an old diesel pump with a sign offering live bait. Inside, the store was known for its pickled eggs, aspirin, chewing tobacco, batteries, lottery tickets, snacks, and updates on local happenings—at least before the power went out.

Since the storm, the store has lost over $6,000 in stock, its ceiling sagging from water damage, and the gas pumps were out of service. Upon arrival, Waters used a flashlight to connect the generator to the store’s fuse box. Smith noted that this kind of neighborly assistance is typical in their community.

According to Smith, most of the tree removal from local roads by Sunday had been carried out by residents instead of waiting for overwhelmed state crews. “It’s Red Hill—it’s a close-knit community,” she remarked, although she warned that recovery would likely take a long time and be challenging.

“The destruction here is immense,” she stated.

Anxious Searches Amid Fears for Loved Ones

Throughout western North Carolina and parts of eastern Tennessee, the aftermath of Helene became increasingly evident on Sunday. The storm had washed away bridges, blocked roads, demolished buildings, and left many without power. At least 90 people have lost their lives across several states since the record-setting storm impacted the U.S. last week.

At a church shelter in Greeneville, Tennessee, not far across the state line and operated by the Red Cross, volunteers cooked pancakes for a small group of individuals still sleeping on cots after being displaced from their homes. Many who had stayed the previous night were now with friends or in hotels, according to volunteer Pat Barraclough.

In Erwin, a town with around 6,000 residents, crowds filled a local high school that was functioning as a shelter to receive hot meals, bottled water, and clothing. Some were still desperately searching for missing family members, fearful they had been swept away by flooding. Others, who had lost their homes or whose businesses had been damaged, were contemplating their next steps.

Some individuals had traveled from North Carolina, navigating hazardous mountain roads filled with downed power lines and fallen trees while avoiding areas where bridges had been destroyed. Others procured fuel for their generators before heading back home.

Further west of Red Hill, in Burnsville, over 100 people queued outside a grocery store seeking food. At another spot, individuals gathered around an emergency relief Wi-Fi station, while the streets were congested with utility trucks and emergency response vehicles.

Smith also made a trip to Tennessee, where cellular service was still functioning. Back in Red Hill on Sunday, she addressed a continuous stream of visitors asking for directions.

“How is the road leading to the bridge? Can I reach my car there?” one woman inquired. “Will I be able to cross it?”

“They are working on it,” she responded. “You might be able to get through today.”

A resident handed her a piece of paper asking her to make a call the next time she found herself in an area with cell service. It had a phone number and the name of a neighbor’s family. “He is safe but we have no power, cell service, or internet,” the note stated.

Smith mentioned that most of her neighbors were okay, and she remains optimistic they will pull through.

“Everyone here is in the same situation, but they will make it through,” Smith said. “They’ve got their grills and generators.”

Community Spirit: ‘We Check on Each Other’

Waters is uncertain whether his insurance will compensate for the losses incurred on his farm, which include cattle and a sawmill, but he acknowledges the lengthy recovery ahead. At least, he stated, his Scottish Highland cows have survived.

Yet, he also observes a positive shift, noticing neighbors who typically keep to themselves reaching out and connecting in the wake of the disaster.

Helping each other is a comforting thought during these times of political discord, he noted. This positive aspect also influences his children, he added.

“They’re discovering life beyond the internet. My son had the chance to go out and assist our neighbors,” Waters explained. “He asked, ‘Where are we going?’ I told him we’re going to check on the neighbors. That’s our responsibility. These experiences are valuable lessons.”

As the sunlight began to fade on Sunday afternoon, Waters, with the help of friends who were trying to figure out why the generator was malfunctioning, finally witnessed the lights flickering back on as the generator roared to life. The lottery sign shone brightly again, and the freezer started up.

While the gas pumps were still inoperative, they continued to work hard.