Survivors of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina recounted their terrifying experiences escaping rising floodwaters to President Donald Trump on Friday, urging for assistance four months post-disaster.

Thomas Bright found himself on the roof of his family home, which had been in their possession for four generations, for four long hours. As floodwaters surged, he sent farewell messages to his two children and two grandchildren while watching debris, including parts of his garage, float away.

“We thought we were going to die,” Bright shared. “We witnessed houses, trailers, and even bodies drifting by.”

That morning in September, he awoke at 5 a.m. to the sound of trees crashing onto his house. He began moving five vehicles to a road about a third of a mile away as the water levels rose.

When the water reached his ankles inside the house, he retreated to the loft. As the water climbed to his and his wife’s hips, Bright constructed a makeshift ladder to reach the roof.

In the initial two weeks after the flooding, he mentioned that eight bodies were discovered nearby.

“We feel fortunate to be alive,” he expressed.

Trump learns about flooding and landslides in western North Carolina

Bright spoke at a lectern adorned with the presidential seal, placed on a muddy patch in Swannanoa, North Carolina, where temporary flooring had been installed. A few local residents recounted their experiences to Trump, who asked them questions from time to time.

Pastor Franklin Graham, who leads the charity Samaritan’s Purse that assisted the flood victims present, shared his personal connection to the area, having grown up just eight miles away and attended high school nearby.

“We’re here to give the president a glimpse of the damage and challenges the people in western North Carolina are facing,” Graham stated.

Trump noted that 104 individuals lost their lives in western North Carolina, with 73,000 homes significantly damaged or destroyed, and that the city of Asheville endured two months without a water supply.

The backdrop of the press conference was a battered, single-story white house still undergoing repairs, located amidst steep, wooded hills. This house belonged to Kim West.

‘We lost everything’: Kim West

West recounted the loss of all her possessions. As floodwaters crept above her ankles, she moved vehicles to higher ground while clutching her purse and her pug dog, while her husband Chris packed dog food into a trash bag.

“By the time we reached the driveway, the water was already at waist height,” West recalled. “I really thought we wouldn’t survive.”

They faced a lengthy wait on local roads due to flooding. The waters finally receded around midnight, after they had begun their evacuation at 5 a.m.

“We have lost everything,” West said. “We didn’t even have a hairbrush for three days.”

Pastor shares stories of community kindness

Pastor Ramona Nix revealed that she had dedicated her Eagle Rock Church just a week prior to Hurricane Helene’s arrival. Despite the circumstances, Nix remained in the church for three months, sleeping on the floor for three weeks due to the overwhelming needs of the community.

Volunteers from Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Indiana, and Oklahoma came to assist with relief efforts. At one point, Nix asked a newly arrived volunteer if there was anything special she wanted.

“She replied, ‘I don’t want to be selfish, but could I have a cup of coffee?’” Nix said. “I handed her the coffee, and she stood there crying. She explained, ‘You don’t understand how meaningful the small things are.’ It’s not all about the big gestures, but it’s the little things that make a difference.”

‘Horrific is the best way to describe it’: Mona Nix-Roper

Mona Nix-Roper, daughter of the pastor, described how her home became isolated as floodwaters surrounded it.

She was alone at home because her husband was caring for a 98-year-old neighbor. When she ventured out to check on the road and bridge to her home, she discovered they had been washed away.

Fire Department officials warned her the following day to evacuate due to potential landslides. Her 21-year-old son Nathan hiked in five miles after the roads became impassable to help her exit.

“He said, ‘Mom, grab a bag; we need to go,’” Nix-Roper said. “I responded, ‘Son, I can’t possibly hike out of here.’ He insisted, ‘No, we have to leave.’”

As they made their way out, they stumbled upon a neighbor’s lifeless body floating in the water.

“All I can say is it was horrific,” Nix-Roper said. “People were everywhere searching for their loved ones, and there were deceased individuals. My son warned me, ‘Mom, you’re going to see things you don’t want to see.’”

Afterward, her home remained without electricity for two months, leading her to live in her church’s sound room. Although others had lost everything, she expressed feeling ashamed to seek help.

“We need assistance,” Nix-Roper said, with tears in her eyes. “It’s absolutely heart-wrenching.”

Trump embraced her once she finished her account.

“I have witnessed many terrible situations, but nothing like this,” Trump remarked.