Mister Rogers learned a saying from his mother that would eventually become one of the most famous of all time: “Look for the helpers.”
After trillions and trillions of gallons of rain fell on Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Florida last week during Hurricane Helene, stories of loss and grief have emerged. But amid the destruction and pain have also come stories of neighbors helping neighbors, unfathomable resilience, creative methods of reaching stranded residents, and remarkable Southern hospitality.
In one Western North Carolina county, just east of Asheville, a local sheriff’s office took to social media to try and put words to the extent of kindness, care, and generosity that they’ve seen over the past week.
In a Facebook post on October 3, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office spoke of “the spirit of our mountain communities, neighborhoods, and the families who have called this place home for generations”— a spirit that cannot be shaken, the post said.
“The Sheriff’s Office has witnessed firsthand the unfathomable acts of kindness and generosity—both from our own citizens and from those out of county and state. The support pouring in has been nothing short of inspiring,” the post read. “We’ve also seen the unending hours of dedication from our emergency services personnel, working tirelessly to protect, rescue, and support our community. Their commitment, along with the overwhelming kindness from near and far, will help carry us through these challenging times.”
Much of the loss in McDowell County “remains unseen,” WRAL reported. “It’s unfathomable at this point,” Marion Mayor Steve Little told WRAL. “So much has just washed away.”
Even so, the community continues to make progress in reaching outlying areas with supplies, the Facebook post went on. After many hours of long, hard work, some roads have been able to reopen and power is being restored. Those “collective efforts are beginning to pay off,” the post said, “and recovery is steadily moving forward.”
And though the road to recovery will be long, the sheriff’s office shared a final message of hope: “We know the roots that bind us, and together we will begin the healing process. Recovery will take time, but our strength lies in our unity. Together, we will rebuild, restore, and protect the places we cherish.”
The best way to stay up to date with recovery efforts in McDowell County is through mcdowellcares.org, where those outside the community can donate and those who need assistance can connect with local resources.
