In the Path: Surviving Hurricane Helene

Join Rosie Vortex as she chats with Ben from Swannanoa, North Carolina. He shares his harrowing experience of surviving a catastrophic flash flood. From the immediate dangers and the struggle for essentials to the inefficiencies in disaster relief, Ben’s story highlights the challenges faced by many and the critical role of community support.

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00:00 Introducing Ben

02:02 Life Before the Flood

03:04 The Day of the Flood: Initial Reaction

05:30 The Flood’s Devastation Unfolds

10:40 Survival and Desperation

17:23 Aftermath and Community Response

20:35 Communication Breakdown During Crisis

21:57 Struggles with Food and Shelter

24:42 Sanitation Issues in the Shelter

27:18 Community Support vs. Official Aid

31:12 Challenges with FEMA Assistance

34:30 Future Outlook and Final Thoughts

41:20 Outro

In this gripping episode of In the Path with Rosie, we hear from Ben, a Hurricane Helene survivor who recounts his harrowing experience during the devastating floods that struck Western North Carolina. Ben, who lived in a mobile home on the lot of his landscaping company, details how the flooding caught him and his community off guard, rising rapidly and destroying everything in its path. As a Hurricane Helene survivor, Ben shares the challenges of living through the storm, from moving vehicles in waist-deep water to watching his home become inundated.

This episode not only provides a personal perspective from a Hurricane Helene survivor but also highlights the struggles that survivors face in the aftermath. Ben talks about the lack of warnings before the flood, the devastation of losing everything, and the slow and often disorganized response from authorities and relief organizations. Despite the hardships, Ben remains hopeful and grateful for the community’s support and his GoFundMe campaign aimed at helping others affected by the disaster.

Listeners will be moved by Ben’s resilience and the candid details of his experience as a Hurricane Helene survivor, from the terrifying moments during the flood to the ongoing recovery efforts. Tune in to hear his story and find out how you can contribute to the recovery efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Helene.