The devastating category 4 hurricane made contact on September 26, 2024. This was off the coast of northern Fla. However, this natural disaster continued into the Carolinas. North Carolina specifically was harshly affected when the hurricane came into contact with the colder air from Appalachia, creating a surge of rainfall. There have been over 250 deaths and even more are missing. Millions of dollars in housing and architecture were also destroyed as the infrastructure was unable to hold in 140-mph winds. The hurricane was nearly 350 miles wide when it hit, bringing an average 30 inches of rainfall.

NC resident Iliana Villatoro said, “This is the worst hurricane ever faced in this area.” She was hit with heavy rainfall and flooding within her house. With little preparation or knowledge on how to prevent this, much of her home has been destroyed.

Another local from Fletcher, NC stated, “I’ve never seen a natural disaster, nonetheless one we could have NEVER prepared for. “Everything is gone,” she said, describing her town. There was little warning for residents and even those who knew did not truly understand what was coming.

Many rural areas that were cherished homes, such as Chimney Rock and Helltown, were completely demolished. This event affected many people including Hector Hernandez who said, “My world was uprooted. The home I lived in since I was 15 is gone.”

This description is the sad reality for more than 134,000 people across the Carolinas. Moving forward people are coming together to clean and rebuild. After such an event, it is continuously amazing how well a community can come together to strive.