A construction site showing a partially built bridge over a river, with dirt and construction cones nearby, and a hillside with houses and trees in the background under a clear blue sky.

10.21.2024

What happened in Bat Cave?

Rain. So much rain.

On September 25, 2024, the rain started to fall, and it didn’t stop until nearly all of Western North Carolina was underwater. The area impacted by Hurricane Helene is about the size of Maine, and has impacted more than a million homes. I can’t possibly see them all, so I’m showing you a small section of the area where I live, the area that is accessible on foot right now, about a mile of Highway 64/74 through Bat Cave, NC.

In roughly 60 hours, starting on Wednesday the 25th, we received 24 inches of rain at my house. We watched our small creek rise 12+ feet out of its banks, washing away our bridge, flooding our basement, covering our belongings in mud. Our mountain collapsed into mudslides, snapping power poles like dry spaghetti, whisking 70 year old weeping willows away as if they didn’t have roots at all. The water everywhere then combined with the water coming down from Hendersonville, from Black Mountain, from Fairview and Gerton, from over the mountains and from the natural springs, and funneled directly into Bat Cave, washing everything down the corridor, through Chimney Rock, and into Lake Lure. I read that the amount of rain that fell was enough to cover the entire state of NC with 3 feet of water. People I spoke to yesterday described it as a river of cement, moving both so fast and so slowly. We were flooded here before Helene even arrived - we were in trouble long before the heavy rain began on the morning of the 27th. And then, between midnight and 10am, 12+ inches of rain pummeled our already drowning landscape.

Yesterday, October 20, 2024, I finally turned right off our road, onto 64E towards Chimney Rock, for the first time since September 26. This path to down the mountain is second nature to me, we drive this route several times a day to get the girls to and from school. My clients are in Lake Lure, the bulk of my weddings are there, our friends are there. Driving yesterday was beyond disorienting. Suddenly there are beautiful long range mountain views, only made possible by the lack of earth and trees and homes that have lived on that land for as long as anyone knows. There are entire houses gone - and some picked up and placed back in another spot facing an entirely different direction. Driving slowly, trying to digest it, trying to not cry, trying to understand it all. The landmarks are gone, the familiarity erased. And then you come on a spot where there is no road at all and you realize you’re driving through what used to be someone’s yard, because the road is now in the riverbed. I know that on each trip up and down, I’ll see more and more layers of sadness, like a rotten onion peeled back and left to wither in the sun.

In many places, there is no road anymore. The landscape has been carved out at the river’s will, like a scoop through the ice cream tub on a summer day. The Rocky Broad River took what she wanted, consuming the land on either side of her banks, swallowing lives and lifelong dreams, leaving nothing but trash and boulders behind. There aren’t words in my vocabulary to accurately describe what now exists within Bat Cave. Just 10 miles from here, in downtown Hendersonville, it looks like nothing happened at all. People are driving around, going to lunch, shopping, living normal lives. But out here, time has stopped. There is endless work to do out here. Hands are needed, building supplies are needed. Donations are overflowing. Our residents crave safety, wishing for roadblocks, wishing for the ability to worry just a little less about looting and theft.

We have not had rain since Helene, and there’s no rain in the forecast. This is, like so many other things, a blessing and a curse. No rain means no additional damage, no water inside homes with newly formed skylights courtesy of trees. It also means that the air is thick with dirt and dust, and so many of us are experiencing dry coughs, lingering sore throats, hoarse voices. There never seems to be enough water to quench the thirst that we feel. Tired is not the word, fatigue fits a bit better.

This is a puzzle with no edge pieces, a project so large and insurmountable that nobody knows where to begin. And the folks in Bat Cave still, 24 days later, have no power, most have no running water, and have no access by car to where their homes once stood - drive to a point, walk the rest of the way. A man named Curtis says he can’t leave his house. He fears if he does, he might come back to find it’s been bulldozed.

There are no bodies. There is no smell. On this Sunday, there was barely any noise. There is sadness everywhere you look.

But among the sadness is sunshine, both from the sky and from the resilience of the people who are still standing. There are new friends to be made, neighbors to be met. There are hugs to be found from every person you pass, and tears to be shared between you. Hope comes in on the back of the fresh fall breeze.

Some people say we’re optimists, I say we’re just stubborn - no storm is strong enough to keep us down.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I sincerely hope that’s true, because the words escape me.

A dirt road lined with trees and some debris on the sides, with a clear blue sky and bright sunlight overhead.
A mobile laundry and shower ministry trailer for disaster relief NC parked on a dirt road with a chair in front, alongside a small campsite with an orange tent, signs offering free supplies, and orange traffic cones, surrounded by trees and rocks.
Empty metal shelf with a sign that says 'Supply Hub' written on cardboard, set up on dirt ground near a dirt mound and trees, with a tent in the background.
A forest with trees and dense foliage under a blue sky, with a dirt ground and some scattered branches and rocks.
A dirt road with large dirt and rock piles on the left side, surrounded by trees with green and some brown leaves, under a clear blue sky.
A rocky riverbank with scattered stones and mud in a rural area, with a small river flowing through the scene. There are trees with sparse leaves, a hillside in the background, and a red house with a brown roof on the right side.
A rocky riverside with a gentle flow of water, surrounded by trees with fall foliage and a few houses in the background under a bright blue sky.
A riverside scene with trees and a few houses in the background, some trees are uprooted and debris scattered along the shore, indicating recent flooding or storm damage.
A river with a partially collapsed stone bridge, surrounded by trees and houses on the riverbank, after a flood or storm.
Dirt road with cracks, alongside a river, with debris and damaged landscape, indicating destruction from a natural disaster, under a clear blue sky.
A house severely damaged by a flood, with mud and debris surrounding it and a collapsed roof, amidst muddy terrain and flooded water, with trees in the background under a clear blue sky.
A dirt road runs alongside a river with debris and damaged concrete on the bank, trees on the other side, and a mountain in the background under a clear blue sky.
A muddy dirt road with tire tracks on the left, and some standing water along the ground, with a river and trees in the background. The sky is clear with the sun shining brightly.
Man and young boy near a rocky riverbank with trees and a partially collapsed shed in the background.
A scene of destruction caused by a natural disaster showing debris, fallen trees, damaged buildings, and utility poles in a mountainous area.
A street scene with parked cars, people walking, utility poles and wires, dirt mounds and fallen branches, and a wooded hillside in the background.
A large white house with a front porch decorated with pumpkins and a wreath, surrounded by bushes, with steps leading up to the porch. There is a house on the left, a pickup truck parked nearby, and trees with some leaves changing color in the backgr
A yard with a stone retaining wall, a patchy grassy lawn, shrubbery, a white house partially visible on the left, and a wooded hillside with tall trees and some underbrush in the background under a clear blue sky.
A white pickup truck is damaged and surrounded by fallen trees and power lines after a storm or natural disaster in a wooded area.
A damaged fence and fallen power lines after a storm, with trees and a hillside in the background.
A rural road with fallen power pole and wires along the right side, surrounded by trees with autumn foliage and a dark fence on the right, under a clear blue sky.
Electrical wires on the ground with a damaged insulator and surrounding construction debris.
Fallen tree branches and debris blocking a road near a forested area after a storm, with a metal fence on each side.
A small rural church with a sign indicating a transfiguration event, surrounded by trees and a dirt road.
A collapsed section of a bridge over a river, with broken concrete and exposed metal. The bridge has partially collapsed into the river, with debris and damaged support structures visible.
A dirt road runs along a rocky riverbank through a mountainous forested area during daytime with clear blue skies.
A rugged dirt trail through a wooded area with rocks and fallen branches, surrounded by trees with green and autumn-colored leaves.
A large gray rock with graffiti writing '368' in white paint, located on a dirt area surrounded by trees and bushes.
Dirt road with tire tracks and mud puddles in a forested area on a sunny day.
A house partially obscured by dense foliage and trees, with visible white siding, a gabled roof, and a small dormer window, surrounded by autumn-colored leaves.
A flowing mountain river bordered by rocks and trees with green and autumn foliage, and mountains in the background.
A toppled power pole with broken wires and insulators lies near a rocky riverbank, indicating storm or accident damage.
Small stream flowing over rocks surrounded by dry leaves and dense bushes.
A rocky river flowing through a forest with trees on both sides, some leaves showing fall colors, sunlight reflecting on the water.
Collapsed rocky dirt trail surrounded by green and autumn-colored trees in a forest.
A large rock with white graffiti reading '368' and some unreadable text, surrounded by dirt, dry branches, and sparse green and yellow foliage in a natural outdoor setting.
Dirt road with tire tracks and puddles of water, surrounded by trees and rocks.
A muddy dirt road with tire tracks and puddles runs alongside a river with rocks, surrounded by trees on a hillside with a clear blue sky.
A rocky riverbank with large stones and exposed roots, surrounded by trees under a clear blue sky.
A rocky river with clear water flowing through a forested area with trees on both sides, some showing fall foliage.
A rocky riverbed with white and gray stones, bordered by a dense forest with tall trees, some fallen branches, and a ladder leaning against the rocks.
A rocky river with some construction equipment and debris, trees with fall foliage, and houses in the background.
A flowing river with rocks and debris along the bank, and a background of trees and shadows.
Dirt road along a river with trees and mountains in the background, two people walking, and a white vehicle parked on the side.
A rocky river flowing through a forested area with trees and mountains in the background on a sunny day.
A yellow excavator working on a rocky embankment with fallen trees along a river, surrounded by dense forest.
Broken power pole with toppled wires and transformers leaning over a brown privacy fence, with leafless trees and a house in the background.
A dirt road next to a sign that reads 'A Touch In Time Gift Shoppe Est. 1902,' decorated with fall leaves and a pumpkin, with a hilly landscape and trees in the background.
A white Ford Ranger pickup truck with a fallen tree on top of it after a storm, with broken power lines on the ground nearby, in a neighborhood with trees and sparse sunlight.
A damaged pickup truck on the side of a dirt road, with fallen tree branches and downed power lines, in a rural area with a mountain in the background and a sign for Caulder Realty and Land Co.
Destroyed houses and debris from a natural disaster, with damaged structures, fallen trees, and disrupted power lines in a rural area under a clear blue sky.
Collapsed house with damaged roof and fallen walls in a landscape with trees and a clear blue sky.
A house has collapsed onto its side after damage, with visible wooden framework and siding, a window, electrical meters, and surrounding debris, indicating it has been affected by a disaster.
Close-up of a rock garden with a cactus covered in pink pebbles, a bush in the background, and a residential front yard with a house, trees, and parked trucks.
A blue vehicle is partially submerged in water and surrounded by fallen trees and debris, indicating a flood or mudslide in a forested area.
A dirt road damaged by a flood runs between a river on the left and damaged houses on the right, with debris and mud in a rural area under a clear blue sky.
View of a mountainous area with a clear sky. The foreground shows dirt and debris, likely from a recent cause of destruction. In the background, there are houses, vehicles, and trees on a hillside. People are in the street hugging in the distance.
A small wooden stake with a life preserver attached, bearing a handwritten thank you message for volunteers, outdoors with a pumpkin and plants in the background.
A damaged street sign reading 'King Fire Road' amidst debris, fallen branches, and discarded trash, with a building in the background.
A person driving a Kubota utility vehicle across a rocky riverbed with fallen trees and autumn-colored foliage in the background.
A dirt road with debris and mud from a recent landslide, with people walking and cars parked on the side. Trees and houses are visible in the background, with some damage evident.
Storm-damaged, exposed house framework near a river with trees in the background.
Storm damaged home beside a river with a partially destroyed wooden structure. Building tools and supplies are scattered near the structure, and trees are visible in the background under a clear blue sky.
Interior of a house after a natural disaster, with exposed wooden studs, damaged drywall, a mud-covered floor and construction debris on the ground.
A river with rocks and debris flowing under a bridge, with a destroyed home in the foreground and trees in the background.
A smiling older man and woman standing together outdoors near a river with fallen trees and branches, surrounded by trees with autumn foliage, during daytime.
Woman scraping mud out out by hand with exposed wooden studs and debris on the floor.
Construction site under a wooden deck with tools, construction materials, and scattered items, overlooking a river and nature.
Two people working on the recovery of a house, removing storm debris round exposed wooden studs.
A woman working on an interior wall of a house under construction, surrounded by wooden studs, electrical wiring, and debris from demolition.
Muddy construction site with a bottle, an aluminum can, and two shovels leaning against a rough wooden framing partial wall.
Interior view of a partially destroyed house with exposed wooden framing, electrical wires, insulation, and a red door in the background.
Damaged house with fallen debris and broken furniture along a riverside, with a river, rocks, trees, and a clear sky in the background.
A whiteboard with writing, a small American flag, and clothes hanging on a clothesline outside a stone building during daytime.
Man standing on porch of a house with a sign that says 'Still Here Still Standing' and a Bat logo. The house has green walls, orange-trimmed windows, and a stone wall. The porch has outdoor furniture, a cooler, and a whiteboard with writing, along wi
Road damage and fallen utility poles along a dirt road beside a river, with a bridge, trees, and hills in the background.
A white church with steeple on a hillside surrounded by trees, with a bridge and dirt area in the foreground.
A concrete bridge railing with chalk writing that reads 'McDon 327 0.30.4' and an arrow pointing to the right, orange traffic cone, and construction debris including rocks and wires in the foreground, with other sections of the bridge and trees in th
Construction site on a bridge over a river with a house on the hill in the background and traffic cones on the dirt path.
A small red and white building with a porch and a large painting on the front, situated by a river with a black pickup truck parked in front. The building has a sign that reads 'Visit Our Gift Shop.' There are trees and a hillside in the background,
Damaged house with collapsed roof and debris, surrounded by trees and rocks, after a natural disaster.
Damaged residential area with debris and fallen trees after a flood. A partially collapsed house and displaced wooden stairs are visible among trees and mud.
A rural road with cars stopped behind barricades, surrounded by trees with a clear blue sky overhead.
A roadside scene with a white sign reading 'Supply Hub Bat Cave Post Office,' a pink container on the ground, and a yellow warning sign about winding roads ahead, against a backdrop of dense bushes and trees.
Rocks and trees along a shallow river in a mountain valley with houses on the right and clear blue sky.
A river with debris and flooding damage along the banks, houses in the distance, and a damaged road with fallen concrete and uprooted trees, indicating flood or storm destruction.
A small piece of a home remains after a hurricane. There are construction materials, a parked truck, and a container in the area, with a sign that says 'DO NOT DEMO' on a wall. The ground appears to be mud.
A person riding a horse on a trail, partially obscured by tree branches and leaves, with other horses visible in the background.