Swannanoa: 5 Weeks After Helene
"There's so much mess, sometimes you don't know where to start because there's so much, it's too big, but if you just start, do a little bit at a time, it makes a difference".
That's the core mentality right now in the Swannanoa area more than a month after Helene demolished anything close to the Swannanoa River. In just over 35 days of documenting this disaster, we'd be hard pressed to find a harder hit area in WNC than this pocket when it comes to the sheer number of people affected. Countless people lost their homes, many people lost their lives, loved ones, pets, and the reality of the situation is we're well past the "Hero Honeymoon" phase of a disaster as they call it, and national and international attention on this crisis has dramatically cooled off. But the fact of the matter is with winter approaching, WNC needs your help more than ever.
Wondering how to help? We've got a list of organizations we recommend in the first comment, please visit and consider helping if you can. Reach out to any of those if you can volunteer as well, and they can put you in touch with how you can be used. It takes a village but we're going to get through it one bucket at a time, it just takes getting started.
#HurricaneHelene #HeleneRecovery #WNCStrong
Weâre big Logan Ledger fans around here, and finally got an opportunity to meet up and shoot a bit of his set at Bristol Rhythm and Roots a few weeks ago. His newest album âGolden Stateâ has been spun many a time in the Fiasco studio during marathon editing days.
đ¤ @loganledger
đ @bristolrhythm
#loganledger #countrymusic #bristolrhythmandroots
Shoutout to @scrippsnews for interviewing me (Stephan) about the devastation of Helene just a couple days after the storm hit while I was at the Dallas airport making my way to Montana for some much needed decompressing.
National news organizations who continue to talk about Western North Carolina and share whatâs happening here can help us get much needed aid to those who need it most. It was a pleasure talking to @robnelsontv and @alexlivingstontv and sharing our areaâs story.
#hurricanehelene #westernnorthcarolina #asheville #wncstrong
We had just finished shooting with American Red Cross and were headed further up into Burnsville, taking some supplies and documenting some landslides via drone when we spotted a man sitting at the very edge of his property, nestled right in between two landslides, seemingly spared by the forces of destruction, decked out in army gear, drinking a beer, and playing a dulcimer while looking out at the world of beauty and devastation in front of him.
We pulled the truck over, hopped out, and hung out for a while while we drank a beer and listened to his story. He talked about the extremist groups that had been up and down the hollar recently (thus the mags in his pocket and the rifle close by). He spoke to us in fluent Russian and German and talked about his time serving in the military and special operations during the Cold War. He played music for us, and talked about how his elderly neighbor survived as her house slid down the mountain in a massive mudslide.
Despite everything, Matt remains steady. His humor, grit, and intelligence was a pleasure to experience and a shining light in a dark time. Next time we go to visit him we are bringing our guitars â and the beers.
#peopleofhelene #hurricanehelene #westernnorthcarolina #wnc #disasterrelief
Big props to the organizations that donated Starlinks for us to distribute in the deep hollars of Yancey County, one of the hardest hit counties of WNC.
Way tf up in Roaring Creek (appropriate) we delivered Arlic and his mom communications needed to reach friends, family and much needed assistance.
It takes a village yâall, so letâs keep the aid coming! Thanks @jerilyn.stone and yâallâs crisis response team for getting us hooked up with the satellite internet. Yâall the real MVPâs.
#helene #wncstrong #westernnorthcarolina #starlink
Big props to the organizations that donated Starlinks for us to distribute in the deep hollars of Yancey County, one of the hardest hit counties of WNC.
Way tf up in Roaring Creek (appropriate) we delivered Arlic and his mom communications needed to reach friends, family and much needed assistance.
It takes a village yâall, so letâs keep the aid coming! Thanks @jerilyn.stone and yâalls crisis response team for getting us hooked up with the satellite internet. Yâall the real MVPs.
#helene #wncstrong #westernnorthcarolina #starlink
National Guard guys bringing the big toys on their first day in Fairview, NC.
The Cane Creek valley saw some bad stuff. Itâll never be the same again, but it will be awesome again, just different. Mad props to the men and women of the Natty Guard for kicking ass and taking names throughout all this.
#helene #wnc #wncstrong
Thinking of all the fellow artists, restaurants, bars, and other businesses owners affected in the RAD, where our studio is. We lost the majority of our studio equipment, but are blessed to have our camera gear intact, so we can continue documenting this disaster.
This video from Friday, Sept. 27th was taken around 6 p.m., when the river was at peak height and water had engulfed almost every building in the River Arts District.
Please consider donating and lending a helping hand where you can.
#helene #wncstrong #riverartsdistrict #asheville
Billy is a crop duster from Fairfield NC. This week he's the only point of contact some stranded mountain folks have had in two weeks. Billy is just one of hundreds of skilled badass volunteers bringing whatever they can to help complete strangers.
Thanks guys.
#LittleGatorAviation #helene
The vast, un-countable number of skilled volunteers & community members stepping up, searching, comforting and feeding our neighbors is extraordinary.
Food, supplies and S&R teams are coordinated from local Fire Depts like Fairview VFD. It's just this hub of unstoppable awesomeness.
Thank you guys.
A splendidly wholesome afternoon at AvlFest. For those few who couldn't get inside a packed out @eulogyavl, this was the tame part. Just delightful.
That's a wrap on @avlfest 2024. Our team managed to cover over 20 venues, shoot 80 different bands between two teams, and push out live photo and video edits twice a day. We're tired yo! But happy, and so durn thankful to live in a city that can support this much music. Big PRECIATECHYA to all the people who bought tickets, the production team, the academy, our parents, beer, and everything in between. We sleep now (for a few hours).
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#avlfest2024 #avlfest #asheville #fiascomedia #sleepnow
