Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage in Southeast, particularly in Western North Carolina

[Episcopal News Service] As Hurricane Helene, a powerful Category 4 storm with winds of up to 140 miles per hour, moved from the Big Bend region of the Florida Panhandle late on Sept. 26 into the hills of Appalachia two days later, Episcopal churches and entities suffered damage that ranges from minor to major.

In the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, however, that damage has been catastrophic; over two feet of rain fell in the area, sending floodwater across the region.

Bishop José McLoughlin told Episcopal News Service by phone that much of his diocese has been cut off, because cell and internet access is spotty at best. He travels halfway down the mountain from his home to a parking lot where he can get enough cell service to make and receive calls. His home also is without power and water.

The mountainous terrain of this portion of Appalachia, combined with a storm system that stalled over the area and dumped up to 30 inches of rain, was “the perfect recipe for disaster,” he said.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Presiding Bishop-elect Sean Rowe have both been in regular contact with him, and he said their office has helped him send information to every bishop about how they and their people can help – which in the immediate future means staying away. “We know people want to come, but this is still an active search and rescue mission,” he said. Entire towns – Chimney Rock, Marshal, Hot Springs – were washed away, sometimes with people asleep in their beds. Other areas remain saturated, with trees still toppling onto homes and roadways.

Emergency personnel have arrived from across the United States to help with traffic control and rescue efforts, and McLoughlin said he has begun to see workers from far-flung power companies who are there to begin rebuilding the power grid. So far, they have established service to the Asheville airport, which means helicopters now can use the airport as a loading spot for dropping items into remote areas. Duke Energy said it hopes to have power restored to most areas this week.

Cell providers have opened their towers so they serve anyone with a phone regardless of carrier, and they also are bringing in portable towers so people can begin to communicate.

It will take longer to restore water, he said, since some pipes were washed away, and roads remain impassible in some areas.

McLoughlin said his staff is working to contact every priest in the diocese, to find out how parishioners are doing and to assess how church buildings fared in the storm. From there, they will try to coordinate what people need and match it with those who are offering help.

In addition, if Episcopalians have items to donate or skills they want to use to help in recovery, he urged them to contact their own bishop – who already has received information from his office – so it can all go onto a master list on which they can draw when it’s safe for people to come in to help.

The city of Asheville was among the areas hardest hit, with major damage to the Cathedral of All Souls there. On Sept. 28, the Swannanoa River rushed over its banks and filled the cathedral with water up to the altar and the parish hall to its roof, McLoughlin said.

Cathedral dean the Very Rev. Sarah Hurlbert posted a video to the church’s Facebook page that showed water running outside the cathedral, making the area look more like a river than a city street. “This is the situation right now,” she said. “We will pray and pray and pray.” On Sept. 28 she posted a video of dry streets around the cathedral but with the area cordoned off by police to allow space for emergency personnel to work, she said.

Kanuga, a nonprofit Episcopal camp and conference center about 40 miles south of Asheville near Hendersonville, said via Facebook that it had suffered extensive damage from flooding, fallen trees and winds. Photos show multiple trees uprooted on its 1,400-acre property, and one large tree that appeared to have pierced the roof of one of its cabins.

Less damage in other areas of the Southeast

As Helene churned toward land, it first affected churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida. “After experiencing record-breaking storm surge, we are working closely with our clergy and lay leaders to support our congregations and local communities as they begin the recovery process,” Bishop Douglas Scharf told ENS by email.

He noted that several churches in Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota Counties experienced storm surge flooding: St. Boniface, Siesta Key; Annunciation, Holmes Beach; St. Matthew’s, St. Petersburg; St. Alban’s, St. Pete Beach; Calvary, Indian Rocks Beach; and St. Thomas, Snell Isle. “Many are arranging for alternative spaces for worship while their buildings are cleared of water and damaged materials. Many other churches have reported more minor damage,” he said. He noted that in addition, parishioners and residents across the diocese have lost their possessions and their homes.

“We stand ready to provide assistance to our neighboring dioceses that have experienced catastrophic damage,” Scharf said. “We are assessing needs and working with partners at Episcopal Relief & Development to address those needs.”

When the hurricane shifted slightly to the east before it made landfall, it mostly spared churches in both the Episcopal Diocese of Florida and the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, which includes the western portion of the Florida Panhandle. “Having been through the devastation of hurricanes past and knowing what lies ahead for recovery efforts, our hearts are hurting for all our neighbors whose lives have been forever changed by Hurricane Helene,” Jenn Johnson, Central Gulf Coast’s missioner for communications, told ENS. “We will continue to collect monetary donations and offer assistance in any way we can.”

As Helene moved into Georgia, it hadn’t lost strength as hurricanes normally do, Liz Williams, communications manager for the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, told ENS. Several churches suffered damage, mostly from trees that fell into church roofs, including St. Andrew’s in Douglas and St. Bartholomew’s in Savannah. Some damage may have happened from tornadoes that the hurricane spawned. Many areas of the diocese, which covers the southeastern part of the state, still have widespread power outages. Bishop Frank Logue said on Facebook, “We are working with Episcopal Relief & Development on a grant to assist us in providing direct aid to the neediest neighbors in our communities.”

Camp Mikell, an Episcopal camp and conference center located near Toccoa, in the Diocese of Atlanta, has opened its doors to offer refuge for those needing temporary housing while waiting for utility services to be restored.

“We understand the challenges and hardships many people are facing due to the hurricane,” said Jessica LeFiles, the camp’s director, in a press release. “By opening our doors, we hope to provide a safe and supportive environment for those in need as they work towards rebuilding their lives.”

How to help

“This storm has caused widespread damage to a huge swath of the southern U.S.,” Katie Mears, senior technical specialist, disaster risk and resilience for Episcopal Relief & Development, told ENS by email. “Working through our local church partners and using their gifts, we will provide relief to the most underserved members of the impacted areas, as well as be there for the long term as they recover.”

Donations can be made to their Hurricane Relief Fund for emergency and long-term recovery support to the southeastern communities that have been impacted by Hurricane Helene.

— Melodie Woerman is an Episcopal News Service freelance reporter based in Kansas.