BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. — Communities in the mountains are reeling from the devastation left by Hurricane Helene. Residents of Black Mountain are coming together to help each other in the aftermath, despite the lack of power and internet.
Volunteers are distributing water and hot meals to those in need. One of the affected residents is Elena Delatorre, owner of Ole’s Guacamoles, who saw the damage to her restaurant for the first time on Monday.
“This is the first time coming to look at all this mess and start cleaning up and making plans for a better future,” Delatorre said.
Inside the restaurant, mud covers the floor, and many people are working to salvage tables and chairs. Delatorre found a vase that survived the storm, saying, “It survived! I’ve had it for 18 years.”
As a family-run business, Delatorre is counting her blessings. “It’s all material stuff that we can rebuild,” she said.
The water level rose higher than anticipated, causing significant damage. “You could see the line of the water going through the kitchen door. It’s pretty high, and they pushed the door down, and everything’s a mess in there,” Delatorre said. “But that’s okay, we’ll keep going.”
Food and water distribution points will continue to help those dealing with the storm’s impacts. Mary Katherine Robinson, pastor at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, said their number one goal is taking care of the community.
“One person’s focusing on distribution, one is focusing on food. I think our church is really focused on feeding people,” Robinson said.
On Sunday, the church fed over 1,000 people and expects that number to rise. “We just had a former church member come in from Williamsburg, Virginia, that just brought in a whole U-Haul of food and supplies, generator, gasoline,” Robinson said.
Volunteer Kent Patton, who has lived in Black Mountain his whole life, was amazed by the community’s response. “It’s amazing how the community’s coming together and feeding, and you know none of this has been planned or anything,” Patton said.
For those in need, there are two food and water distribution sites in the town: Black Mountain Presbyterian Church and the Monte Vista Hotel. Residents are encouraged to visit these sites for assistance.
