Developing suddenly in the Gulf, Hurricane Helene literally took the southeastern United States by storm and is now one of the worst hurricanes in modern history. With only a couple days’ notice, Helene ravaged Florida and then moved inland. Inland states prepared for bad weather and heavy rains, but the fury and torrential rains that occurred hundreds of miles from the coast was shockingly unexpected. Portions of at least six states suffered catastrophic damage and loss of life, and the death toll is well over 200 and still rising!

The loss and suffering are widespread, but no one predicted the cataclysmic destruction in the Appalachian Mountains. Areas of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virgina saw “Katrina”-caliber destruction. Some areas were inundated with 30 inches of rain! Swollen mountain creeks, streams, and rivers sent tidal waves and mudslides down mountainsides, and washed away whole communities in the valleys. People drowned in their houses or in their cars as they tried to escape. The myriad stories of tragedy are heart-wrenching, with too many still untold.

In the decade tenure of this column, it has never been written from a personal perspective, but this week will be the first exception. Our three adult children, two sons-in-law, and eight grandchildren live in western North Carolina. Yancey County was among the hardest hit areas. Taking them basic supplies this past week and helping to clean up, I only mention this to relate that the following observations were made firsthand.

Our oldest daughter lived across the road about 150-200 feet from Cattail Creek in Pensacola, North Carolina. About 10 feet below the road, Cattail Creek is normally about 10-15’ wide, but that Friday it swelled out of its banks and sent about 8 feet of rushing water through their house. It was completely washed away; they lost everything except their vehicles.

Thankfully, our daughter and her children were safely at our cabin some 25 miles away, but her husband stayed behind with the animals. The chickens didn’t make it, but he and the dog survived. As the waters rose, he evacuated the house and moved his truck up the hill watching the carnage unfold. With almost all the roads in Pensacola literally gone, he and the dog hiked out 8 miles over the mountain the next day. With absolutely no communications, our daughter hitch-hiked some 25 miles to town by alternate routes to find her husband. The Lord put her at the rescue station precisely when he and the dog walked out.

Our other daughter, her husband, and their children were also safely at our cabin. The bridge and homes below their house were destroyed. The torrential rains sent a flood down the mountain washing away their garden and yard and redirected a stream under their house. Our son-in-law and I were able to dig a trench to reroute the stream away from the house, so the damage to the house was not severe.

Our oldest granddaughter, oldest son, and his mother safely rode out the storm above Price’s Creek, but a large white oak fell across her driveway. They were only able to walk out down the 500 foot driveway until we were finally able to cut up the tree six days later. A daunting task without heavy equipment, and it took a larger chainsaw thankfully available in Johnson City, Tennessee. All their homes are still without power and water ten days later.

Over a week later, we never encountered or heard from federal or state officials. The county was overwhelmed and scrambling. Cell service and internet were nonexistent for 4 days and still only very intermittent thereafter. Thankfully, Star Link was set up at the Bradshaw Volunteer Fire Department, so we could get some calls out.

Finally, five days in, military units showed up staging supplies at various locations, but by that time, individuals, churches, and private organizations had already met the immediate need. Military personnel were tending ad hoc supply stations, but the real need was for able-bodied personnel with chainsaws and shovels to clear roads and driveways, or deliver aid to those stranded or shut in. Many folks were still trapped across creeks and streams due to washed-out bridges, so we needed military personnel with temporary bridging and building capabilities.

Contractors showed up around day five, but they were still just assessing damage. With soldiers just handing out bottled water and contractors still staging, there seemed to be little coordination or planning. There was more coordination on Facebook sending private volunteers to families asking for help. In the first week, the roads that remained were only made passable by locals cutting paths through the downed trees. It was days before official teams started clearing main roads.

The power companies were working diligently from the population centers out, but the task is so enormous it could take months to restore power. They told us it would be about six months before power would be restored to our cabin. Roads and bridges will take years to rebuild. Many families must double and triple the distance by alternate routes to reach goods and services.

The federal and state response is still not perceptible. FEMA advertised that people could go online to apply for $750 in immediate assistance that would be direct-deposited 10 days after approval. With no internet, banks closed, and with cash-only at all stores, that was quite a cynical gesture.

Thankfully, the people and good Samaritans from across the country did not wait: they rushed to the scene with aid and supplies from their own pockets. Neighbors checked on neighbors and helped one another. Volunteers with ATVs and armed with chainsaws went house to house to render aid. Churches, community centers, and volunteer fire departments marshaled supplies to distribute and started serving hot meals as best they could. Communities everywhere came together to help themselves.

The federal and state response is still woefully inadequate. With FEMA spending millions to house illegal immigrants and the federal government spending millions to provide power in Ukraine or relief in Lebanon, it’s an insult for FEMA to say they are understaffed and out of money. It certainly appears they simply don’t care about hurting Americans, especially since there is still no plan for those affected. Insurance companies are already denying claims because most people in the mountains did not have flood insurance.

While disappointment in the government response is profound, the real story is that the American spirit is still alive and thriving. Average Americans have heroically risen to the challenge. With unwavering faith in God, they will recover. However, those affected still have a long hard road to recovery, so continue your prayers and support. The bloated bureaucracy can’t or won’t help, but the American people will get it done.

“When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan” (Proverbs 29:2).

Pete Riehm is a Navy Veteran, conservative activist, and columnist in south Alabama. Email him at peteriehm@bellsouth.net or read all his columns at http://www.renewamerica.com/.