Something is bothering me, and I’d like to talk about it.

It’s about the Asheville area (Western North Carolina), or more specifically, what’s happening there, FEMA, and why my stomach is in knots.

It’s 4:30 AM, I’m in NYC, and I can’t sleep. Last night, I received a very disturbing message concerning the recovery efforts happening in WNC, and I cannot let it go. 

I have a strong history and connection with this part of the country, and because of that, many people have asked me if I know how things are going there. Or, more accurately, they tell me what’s going on, and I share my personal experience that either confirms or denies their information. 

I recently attended an event where I met a lovely woman who was a friend of a friend. We began the usual ‘nice to meet you’ pleasantries when I mentioned I had just flown in from Asheville. 

“It’s terrible the government has pulled out of there,” she said. 

“Um, I don’t think that’s happened.” I quickly explained my experience and showed her some photos I’d taken there. 

She was stunned, the shock visible on her face. 

“Why would they lie?” she asked me.

At the time, I was like, ‘Who’s lying?’

I am so tired of the political rhetoric in our country right now. It exhausts me, and I try to steer clear of things that exhaust me (sans waking at 4:30, of course). So, I will admit, I’m not up on all the ‘hoopla’ that goes on. But people keep asking me in person and sending me emails, texts, screenshots, and DMs.

It’s got my stomach in knots.

And clearly, it’s keeping me up at night. 

I’ve been to the Asheville area since Hurricane Helene and I want to share my experience with you. 

On October 11, 2024, I landed at the Asheville airport.

As my plane touched down, I looked out the window to see rows and rows of (what I assume to be) FEMA helicopters. There were too many to count, but to give you perspective; they were lined up from where we touched down and continued for a long time.

I had just enough time to get my phone out, focus it, and take a picture while we taxied into the terminal. There were military personnel by the helicopters as well. 

 

Scene while landing at the Asheville airport

It was surreal to witness.

It felt like a war zone and probably was in some ways. 

I went there to attend a memorial for a family member (non-hurricane-related). I flew in on Friday and left on Sunday, a short trip.

The highway was clear from the airport to where I was headed (Balsam, about 37 miles west of Asheville), but you could see downed trees everywhere, large swaths cut from the tops of mountainsides where I assume trees used to be but now held debris.

If I didn’t know better, I’d think the areas had been cleared to put in ski lifts. I assume landslides created those sheers.

We passed the outlet mall, whose parking lot was filled with tanker trucks as a resource staging area. Again, there were too many trucks to count. 

While there, I drove through some surrounding areas, specifically Maggie Valley. The main thoroughfare had evidence of flooding with some clay and mud in the center of the street, but nothing prevented us from getting through.

The town had power and water, and businesses were open and ready to receive customers. 

I know people who live in the area.

They said things west of Asheville and surrounding areas were similar to what I saw in Maggie Valley.

Waynesville is getting back to normal. Groceries and gas are (and have been) available, and businesses are opening as they can. Even businesses that flooded are opening, but some had not yet, mostly due to staffing issues, I was told. Some couldn’t process credit cards yet, but that’s resolving, too. 

Connectivity via the internet was a problem, though more and more areas are back up and running each day. StarLink is being offered—very helpful. They offer one month free, but you must buy the equipment for about $300. 

At the memorial, I had a chance to talk to a handful of people who live in Asheville. All things considered, they’re doing okay.

The biggest issue is water.

Basically, anyone on the Asheville water utility doesn’t have usable water coming into their homes or businesses. FYI - A lot of mountain homes in that area are on wells, so if they have power, they have water. 

One person told me, “We have plenty of drinking water. It’s being handed out everywhere. But we have to learn about what water is usable for what purpose. I didn’t really want to know this much about water.”

“A shower is a luxury right now,” said another. 

I responded to this social media post recently. Left to my own devices, I continue to spell Asheville wrong. I will try to do better.

Residents are getting creative.

Schools (already concerned about their kids who are behind because of COVID) are looking into drilling wells so they can open again. People are rigging up solar heating units to heat water suitable for bathing. It isn’t easy, but they’re figuring it out.

Communities are coming together. Everyone wants to return to normal as quickly as possible, but they have a long way to go. 

Walter and I are building a home in Balsam and met with our architect (who lives in Asheville) on Monday, October 21. 

She told me, “We just want to get things back up and running so people have jobs to return to.” 

There is also a heavy cloud of survivor’s guilt as the rescue efforts have turned into recovery efforts. The stories feel impossible. 

So, back to the question, why would they lie?

I still don’t know exactly who they are, and if you’re being honest with yourself, you don’t either, but I can appreciate why you want to think you do. Nothing that has been sent to me gives any real source at all, outside of an individual’s Facebook post.

I try to remember these three things when processing media:

1. Every effective lie contains a kernel of truth. 

2. Every story is just one person’s perspective (including this one).

3. More than one thing can be true at the same time. 

One perspective is never the whole story, as we all process information through the lens of our internal bias.

As humans, it’s easier to try to make ‘our perspective’ the truth because that feels more comfortable and more manageable. It hurts less when we feel more in control. It is very painful to witness or hear about a catastrophic event and know there is literally nothing you can do to change it - or to help bear the pain and suffering of another human being. 

We care about people, and we don’t like sitting in pain.

So, we try to control the situation by making ‘us’ right and ‘them’ wrong, and we tell ourselves that if only X, Y, and Z were happening, things would be better or would have been better. 

Except, there is no ‘better.’

The truth is that a catastrophic event occurred. Infrastructure washed away, homes washed away, and jobs and livelihoods washed away.

Most importantly, people washed away….and died.

All in an instant. 

And if something like this can happen to them, it could happen to you; it could happen to me. It’s a terrifying thought.

But here is what I know.

Things will get better. We will be okay and YOU will be okay.

So, in response to some of the questions I’m getting, these are my responses based on people I’ve talked to, what I’ve seen with my own eyeballs, and what I believe to be true about how things work in the government and our world.

Read on if you wish: 

• Private citizens are helping with the rescue, recovery, and relief efforts - and so is the government. 

• Donald Trump probably donated a lot of money to relief efforts, as did many other people. 

• StarLink is being offered—and it’s been a godsend. You can get one month free, but from what I am told, you must buy the equipment for about $300. 

• From what I’ve heard, there is no anarchy happening in Asheville. 

• When a President visits an area, there will be obstruction and inconvenience to its residents. It’s reasonable to expect that. Donald Trump made a trip to Asheville last week, I think it was October 21st - and our architect told us it was mayhem because of it, which I would also expect. 

• Humans are flawed - all of us. We are imperfect. 

• This will not be a perfect process. Like anything, there will be successes and failures; the aid provided will be monumental for some and hardly helpful for others. Some will get exactly what they need, others won’t—or will need more help than the government can reasonably give. 

• Institutions aren’t great at solving individual problems.

• I don’t know everything there is to know about this. 

• You don’t know everything there is to know about this. 

• There is a lot of work to be done. 

• There is a lot of work being done.

• We will be ok if we work together. 

I love you all so much, and I’d like to allow for helpful discussion about how we can better come together and understand one another, and, better yet, help the people in Western North Carolina. 

If you choose to comment, please do so in a way that is helpful and rooted in love and understanding. Anything less than that devalues the people who are suffering and takes the focus off what needs to happen, which is helping them.

If the comments get crazy, I’ll turn them off.

I still LYLAS -

S

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PS - Here are links to donate/learn how you can help if you’re so inclined.