Hurricane Helene: How We Survived a Week Without Power & Water
Hey everyone,
This is going to be one of the rawest updates I’ve ever shared, but I want to bring you along on this journey. I’m hoping you can hear me in the video over the generators—many people in my neighborhood are using them now.
We’re 24 hours post-Hurricane Helen, and my little mountain town in Western North Carolina is in a bad place. We’re not used to hurricanes hitting this hard, and the devastation is massive. Trees have fallen, the town is underwater, and we’ve been left without power, water, or phone service.
Yesterday, we were expecting heavy rains and some wind, but it quickly became clear it was worse than that. Early in the morning, as the winds hit, we lost power and then started hearing loud booms and cracks—trees were falling everywhere.
I actually watched a huge tree, probably 50 feet tall, crash down between my house and my neighbor’s. It’s terrifying not knowing whether it’s going to hit your home or someone else’s. Fortunately, we escaped damage, but so many of my neighbors weren’t as lucky.
Day 1
We’ve been without power for more than 24 hours. We’re managing without electricity, but now we have no running water and no way to contact anyone, including my elderly parents who are trapped by floodwaters.
I’m worried, and my goal today is to find a way to reach them. I need to figure out how to cook the food we have before it spoils since we can’t use the fridge, and I can’t get my grill to work. I’m going to try using a fire pit if nothing else works.
I don’t have a generator—I live on a single income and just can’t afford one—so we’re trying to make the best of what we have.
Editor’s note: If you’re in a similar financial situation, please read 5 Emergency Power Options: Generators & Battery Solutions for options for all budgets.
I ventured out to see if I could find supplies. Roads are blocked, stores are closed, and the few places that still have power are overwhelmed. The line at the one gas station stretched for miles, so I didn’t even try. I grabbed some non-perishable food at a small grocery store and picked up a little charcoal grill, since there’s no dry wood or propane available. Now, we’re just trying to make this work.
Editor’s note: Read 10 No-Cook Meals You Can Prepare During a Power Outage for emergency recipe ideas.
Day 4
By day four, we were still without power. We finally got water back, but it’s on a boil advisory.
Editor’s note: Clean drinking water is essential so please see our guide to How to Store & Use Water Safely During a Hurricane or Natural Disaster for more information.
I spent most of that day grilling food and trying to salvage what we could from the fridge. We've lost everything in the freezer, and now I’m focused on getting the essentials cleaned up. The scale of devastation is unbelievable—entire towns are underwater, and local businesses have had to throw out all their perishable goods.
I finally managed to reach my parents, and they’re okay, thank goodness. It’s such a relief. I’m also incredibly grateful that our home was spared from major damage. It’s a tough time, but we’re all just holding on.
Day 5
The community has really come together through this. On day five, I went to my church to help cook meals for people. Truckloads of food have been donated, and the church is providing breakfast and dinner for those in need. It felt good to contribute, and it reminded me how strong our community is.
Day 8
After eight days, we finally got our power back. I’m not complaining—so many people have had it far worse—but it’s been a long week. We’ve cleaned out the fridge and freezers, and now it’s time to restock. We made a trip to Sam’s Club in the next town over because our local stores are still recovering. This is the diaper aisle:
This journey has been exhausting, but we’re pushing through.
Thank you for following along, and my heart goes out to everyone who is still struggling. We’re all in this together. Stay safe, and take care.
—Signing off for now.
Comments
Join the conversation