Mistie Cogbill, a lifelong resident of Black Mountain, North Carolina, shares her firsthand account of the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Helene, where homes and lives have been shattered, leaving communities in desperate need of assistance.
As the remnants of Hurricane Helene subside, western North Carolina communities are grappling with the overwhelming devastation left behind by the historic storm. Mistie Cogbill, a teacher and lifelong resident of Black Mountain, joined "America's Newsroom" to deliver an emotional plea for help, shedding light on the urgent needs of her community and the surrounding areas.
Cogbill, a veteran educator with 25 years of service in Black Mountain, recounted the heartbreaking toll the hurricane has taken on her students and their families. "We've seen our friends and neighbors lose their homes," she said. "We've seen classrooms of children who... no longer have their homes." The destruction has been so severe that 23 teachers have vanished from their lists, their whereabouts unknown.
North Carolina Resident's Heartbreaking Plea for Help After Hurricane Helene's Devastation
The impact of Helene has extended far beyond homes and businesses, disrupting essential services that provide vital support to the community. Schools, which are often hubs for resources such as food, therapy, and community outreach, remain closed indefinitely, leaving families devastated. "It's just devastating," Cogbill lamented, "especially for young children who have only experienced the pandemic and then had one month of normalcy to their lives."
Access to the affected areas has also been severely compromised, with hundreds of roads and bridges destroyed, isolating residents and hindering the delivery of much-needed supplies. "There's no road," Cogbill recounted. "My cousin lost her house. They're feeding the fire department, and they're working together because… a community is not buildings. A community's heart is in its people, and we're all working together… As you can see, the destruction is just overwhelming."
North Carolina Resident's Heartbreaking Plea for Help After Hurricane Helene's Devastation
The devastation wrought by Helene has resulted in a grim toll, with over 70 confirmed fatalities in North Carolina alone. The number is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue and access is restored to isolated communities. Hundreds remain unaccounted for, their fate unknown due to the lack of power and communication access.
Cogbill's plea for help was unwavering. "We need so much help. We don't want to be forgotten," she implored. "Our communities all hold hands with each other. Black Mountain and Swannanoa's children go to school together. We're not separate... We need things like baby formula, baby food, pet supplies. We need outreach."
North Carolina Resident's Heartbreaking Plea for Help After Hurricane Helene's Devastation
Nurses have mobilized to establish a makeshift medical station at First Baptist Church, but the community's needs far exceed their capacity. "We're trying to do the best we can, but we just need help," Cogbill stated.
Hurricane Helene has emerged as the second-deadliest hurricane to strike the mainland U.S. in over half a century, surpassing Hurricane Katrina and trailing only Hurricane Camille. The Biden administration has been urged to provide immediate assistance to the devastated communities.
As first responders continue their search for survivors and relief efforts ramp up, the residents of Black Mountain and other affected areas hold onto the unwavering hope that they will not be forgotten in their time of greatest need.
