Beauty Among the Destruction

By Kimberly D. Weaver, Paralegal, Knoxville

On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene hit upper Tennessee and western North Carolina. It was horrifying, and we could not believe what our eyes were seeing. Was this really happening in the mountains of Appalachia? This was biblical in nature.

Homes and businesses were washed away. Raging rivers swept away everything in their paths. Utility and electrical lines and facilities were destroyed. Lives were shattered by uncertainty and death. Everything changed in an instant. This happened in our communities, not several states away, and in places that we have visited. This happened to our friends, families and coworkers.

Volunteers saw devastation they normally would never see. Urgent care facilities were set up in schools and community centers. Medical personnel and volunteers saw traumatic injuries that they did not have the capability to treat. Search and rescue eventually turned into search and recovery.

Debris piles as far as the eye can see. A lot of search and rescue/recovery took place within the debris piles.

When the water receded, it looked like a war zone. Up to ten feet of debris piles were everywhere. Roads and bridges were gone. Three to four feet, sometimes up to six feet, of river bottom dirt covered everything. In some places water rose to over 50 feet. Ridges were sliced by the raging river as if someone took a knife and cut them out. More than one month out, it still looks like a war zone.

Local and national news covered it initially. Country music stars and companies made huge donations. Charities were set up. Ordinary people gathered supplies for the immediate need. But now the cameras have stopped rolling, and this is no longer in the forefront of our minds. People are forgetting. We’re going through life as normal. But we can’t forget. These are our neighbors.

The mud and muck was at least six feet deep.

My church, Buffat Heights Baptist Church, has partnered with the Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief and Riverview Baptist Church to help with the rebuild and clean up. This past weekend, a group of 15 volunteers drove to Erwin, Tennessee and got to work.

I have learned that an indomitable spirit exists within these communities and its people. Their faith refuses to be shaken. Yes, their hearts are broken, and tears are still shed at times. They are devastated by the destruction and loss, but they are looking forward. They are giving comfort, laughing and leaning on each other. They are sharing food, water, clothing and housing with their neighbors. They are fighting for each other’s survival.

The river crested at 50 feet and eroded this ridge. This picture shows the river at its normal stage.

Over one month later, some places still lack water or electricity. Porta-potties are the norm. Food is room temperature, rarely hot. The only way to salvage food is either by generators or a constant flow of ice and coolers. Eighty-five percent of the roads are still impassible. Yet church services are continuing. People are moving forward. Their day-to-day jobs are gone, but their jobs now are to recover and rebuild.

Riverview Baptist Church — the parking lot, brick, and attached buildings — all were washed away.

They will tell you they are blessed. They are appreciative for outside communities coming in to volunteer their time. They are humble, loving and hopeful. The community is slowly rebuilding and is closer than ever. The love for each other and their community is palpable.

Volunteers are the immediate need. Each person has an ability to do something. No matter how big or small the task, you can do something. You won’t regret it.

In return, you get amazing stories and testimonies. You’ll share tears, give comfort and be comforted. You’ll gain new friends and families and will become a member of their community. You’ll be humbled and grateful for what you have because of what they lost. You will be blessed.

Fifty tons of river bottom dirt was shoveled out of the basement.

Will we go back? Without hesitation, yes. This is our mission and where we left pieces of our hearts. And at the end of the day when we had no more strength, we were able to find beauty among the destruction.