Mike Razzano and Chantal Berot were VISIONS leaders for three summers on the Montana Blackfeet Reservation and one in (now retired) Cambodia. They are married and now with two children, are living in Asheville, North Carolina. Mike served as a carpenter on VISIONS programs and has continued to be a talented builder throughout his career. Since Hurricane Helene, Mike has taken to the front lines as Restoration Director of the nonprofit Hell or High Water (donations are welcomed).
Hell Or High Water is a boots on the ground organization involved in relief efforts and long-term support for Western North Carolina. Their slogan is: “Come Hell Or High Water, Appalachia Will Stand.”
In late September, Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina with record-breaking rainfall, triggering severe flooding, mudslides, and infrastructure destruction across multiple Appalachian towns. As rivers overflowed and dams breached, entire communities were cut off from essential services, marking one of the most catastrophic inland flooding events in recent history for this mountainous region.
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By Chantal Berot
It’s been one month. It’s hard to put into words the devastation our region has suffered. We were lucky—our home was spared. Our family is safe, but so many of our friends lost so much. Homes, businesses, loved ones… we are still hearing stories.
The morning after the storm, Mike was out chainsawing trees in our neighborhood, which we assumed had been one of the worst hit. It was a mess. There were trees and power lines down everywhere. Every single street was blocked. Several houses and cars were crushed. We were blissfully unaware of how bad the situation really was.
The towns of Chimney Rock, Marshall, Swannanoa, Fairview, Lure, The River Arts District and parts of Biltmore Village are almost unrecognizable. Bridges collapsed, roads gone, a thick layer of toxic sludge left behind. Last week we drove along the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers and it was hard to hold back the tears. Tankers turned upside down, cars and trucks caught on tree trunks, homes that had been lifted off their foundations now resting several feet from where they should be. People’s cherished belongings, furniture, mattresses, paintings, etc. just sitting in a heap in front of their homes waiting to be collected.
Something that’s hard to convey in videos and photographs is the smell. There is a stench that’s hard to explain. Kind of like compost or decay. It’s not constant but if the wind blows a certain way, it overwhelms the senses. It’s a reminder of the loss. There is so much loss. And yet, the Appalachian people are resilient. This is what has shined through. People have been looking after one another. It was immediate. Local grassroots organizations pulled all their resources and got to work. It’s amazing what has already been done in these few weeks. But this is not a race. It’s a marathon and people need help.
