Where Do We Go From Here, Part 1

This is a personal account from a clean energy advocate who lived through Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina in September 2024. He describes flying home to Asheville as the storm hit, then the aftermath: no power, water, internet, or cell service for days, downed trees blocking roads, and a harrowing trip to check on his parents through washed-out neighborhoods.

The storm's toll was severe: 250 deaths, including 157 in the Asheville area, 125,000 housing units damaged or destroyed, 6,000 miles of roads and more than 1,000 bridges and culverts damaged, and 160 municipal water and sewer systems affected. Total damage reached $80 billion, with $60 billion in North Carolina alone. The piece notes that 96 percent of property damage from the flooding and landslides in North Carolina was uninsured, leaving many residents to cover repairs themselves. More than 2,000 landslides added an estimated 6.6 million cubic yards of debris to local waterways, and clearing it required about 85,000 dump-truck loads.

The author cites research finding that record-hot Gulf of Mexico waters, made far more likely by climate change, fueled the storm's strength, and that climate change made Helene's heavy rainfall 70 percent more likely. He argues no region, including places once seen as sheltered from climate extremes, is safe from these risks. There is no rebate program or homeowner action mentioned here; this is a reflection on the storm's toll, with a second part promised.