Oral histories]]> Long-time Asheville resident Roy Harris was interviewed by Buncombe County Special Collections Librarian Carissa Pfeiffer on August 11, 2025. This interview took place at Blue Ridge Public Radio and was conducted as part of the Come Hell or High Water Oral History Project for Buncombe County Special Collections, Pack Memorial Library.

Harris describes his experiences during and after Helene, driven by a central theme of how the disaster strengthened community bonds. He relates his initial reaction, which was informed by having grown up in a part of North Carolina that experiences hurricanes more frequently [00:07:29]; resource-sharing among neighbors [00:11:00]; and personal anecdotes, such as his daughters and their former high school friends seeing him on CNN, and then organizing a drop-off of supplies [00:18:09]. He also reflects on the challenges faced by the elderly and other vulnerable populations [00:22:13 and 00:33:14] and practical lessons learned [00:40:24]. A recurring theme throughout the interview is the need to learn from all people’s stories and to know and engage with neighbors as a means of building resilience [00:49:17].

Photo (circa 2018) provided courtesy of Roy Harris. Previously published in the article "Roy Harris finds the universal in personal tales," Mountain Xpress, December 11, 2018.]]> Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections]]> August 11, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Jerry Pope]]> September 2, 2025]]> Jerry Pope]]> July 28, 2025]]> Jerry Pope]]> July 20, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Jerry Pope]]> June 18, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Jerry Pope]]> June 10, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Jerry Pope]]> May 6, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Jerry Pope]]> April 21, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Jerry Pope]]> April 18, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Jerry Pope]]> April 9, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Jerry Pope]]> April 8, 2025]]> Jerry Pope]]> March 31, 2025]]> Jerry Pope]]> March 31, 2025]]> Jerry Pope]]> March 28, 2025]]> Will Tozzer]]> July 9, 2024]]> Isaflora]]> April 8, 2026]]> CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. The creator of this image has licensed the work under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives International Deed. You are free to share this work with attribution, for non-commercial purposes, without modifications.
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Not my post, just a screenshot, but I think it should be in this community archive. Posted by user @Thee_K_B on Twitter/X. Here is the link to the post.]]> Anonymous]]> September 28, 2024]]> Oral histories]]>
Parris shares her experience during Tropical Storm Helene, which hit while she was staying at a friend’s home [00:05:41]. Her own home in Tanglewood Mobile Home Community narrowly escaped destruction. She describes returning to Swannanoa and witnessing the storm’s devastation [00:13:20], feelings of survivor’s guilt [00:16:24], and support received from people who brought food supplies and assistance from across the country [00:19:51]. Contemplating the aftermath of Helene, she reflects on gratitude, a changed relationship with the weather [00:23:51], human resilience in the face of disaster [00:26:22], and the continued challenges she and her neighbors face [00:29:57].

Narrator portrait depicts Nancy at Charles D. Owen Park, Swannanoa, NC., March 14, 2026. Photo by Bill Green.]]> Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections]]> April 11, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Oral histories]]>
Kelly relates his experience during and after Helene. The storm struck when he was out of town, and he describes preparations he took before leaving town [00:04:31], his decision to stay in Minnesota at first [00:12:51], and his experience upon returning to his home in West Asheville five days later [00:14:21]. He describes changes to MountainTrue’s work in the short- and long-term aftermath as the nonprofit took on disaster relief and recovery roles in the community [00:19:52]. Kelly also reflects on Helene’s environmental impact in contrast to that of Hurricane Frances in 2004 [00:23:16] and expresses concerns about rebuilding in disaster-prone areas [00:26:24].

Narrator portraits by Bill Green Photography depict Josh outside in Malvern Hills Park, Asheville, on December 17, 2025.]]> Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections]]> September 23, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Dave Hyde]]> March 1, 2026]]> CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. The creator of this image has licensed the work under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Deed.]]> Digital Photograph]]> Oral histories]]>
The Robertsons tell their story while showing photographs to Fiora and Bob, describing their first communications through Starlink [00:20:23], neighbors who checked on them the week after the storm [00:27:53], choosing to stay and establish a routine at home rather than evacuate [00:28:58], and the work of volunteers they witnessed in their community [00:47:54]. Continuing the conversation over a meal, Bob adds how the storm affected areas near his home in East Asheville [00:52:28] and he and Darius discuss the long-term environmental impacts of mudslides and tree loss [00:56:35]. The Robertsons discuss the importance of the Garmin satellite communication device they obtained [01:03:56] and the friendships they developed with relief volunteers [01:09:09]. Bob and Darius reflect on past experiences when they volunteered after Katrina [01:12:41].

This interview was conducted by Fiora Mecale as part of the oral history project Finding Hope: Southern Resilience in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene.]]> Fiora Mecale]]> January 3, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> a resident of Beacon Village in Swannanoa, was interviewed by Buncombe County Special Collections Librarian Carissa Pfeiffer on December 15, 2025. This interview took place at Blue Ridge Public Radio and was conducted as part of the Come Hell or High Water Oral History Project for Buncombe County Special Collections, Pack Memorial Library. 

Butler shares her memories of the destruction Helene wrought on her home and neighborhood. She recounts initially underestimating the storm’s impact [00:03:07], then the harrowing experience of escaping her home with one of her two cats and seeing the widespread destruction in the immediate area [00:11:28]. She describes her frustration with the lack of door-to-door evacuations [00:31:50], getting help from her family [00:36:03] and relief organizations [00:41:43], and the long journey to rebuild her home with the aid of the Fuller Center for Housing [00:45:11]. She expresses profound gratitude for the close-knit community of neighbors that has emerged after the disaster [00:49:32].

Photographs by Bill Green depict Melissa standing on the front porch of her home in Swannanoa, NC, and four photographs of artwork created by Melissa representing objects found in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, January 5, 2026. 

Eight photographs contributed by Butler show the flood's aftermath in her home in late September and early October, as well as the house party and block party hosted in May 2025 by the Fuller Center Disaster ReBuilders, who remodeled the house.]]> Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections]]> December 15, 2025]]> Oral histories]]> Julie Bell, artist and co-owner of Trackside Studios in Asheville’s River Arts District, was interviewed by Buncombe County Special Collections Librarian Carissa Pfeiffer on December 15, 2025. This interview took place at Blue Ridge Public Radio and was conducted as part of the Come Hell or High Water Oral History Project for Buncombe County Special Collections, Pack Memorial Library.

Bell describes how she initially underestimated the storm, based on past experiences with hurricanes [00:05:00]. She was in Texas when Helene hit Asheville, and coordinated aid remotely while serving as River Arts District Association Foundation president [00:10:47] before returning and working together with fellow artists to support one another [00:16:27] and participating in cleaning and rebuilding Trackside Studios [00:27:14] in preparation for a successful reopening in early December which generated overwhelming community support and sales to sustain the business [00:31:52]. Bell concludes by reflecting on her hopes for the future of the RAD [00:42:02], lessons learned from the flood [00:44:48], and the importance of community connections to build collective resilience [00:52:19].

Narrator portraits depict Julie in her art studio in the River Arts District, January 5, 2026. ]]> Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections]]> December 15, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Oral histories]]>
 Ray describes her first impressions of Helene [00:08:56] and difficulties she encountered in the storm’s immediate aftermath, such as getting prescribed medication [00:17:00] and obtaining FEMA resources after evacuating [00:28:01]. She shares how the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies provided support [00:29:34] as well as how community support and ingenuity supported basic needs such as showering and toilet flushing after she returned to Asheville [00:36:54]. In the months following the storm, Priya advocated for improvements to local government communication about non-potable water’s risk to immunocompromised residents [00:46:44] as well as ADA compliance at Community Care Stations [00:54:13]. She concludes by reflecting on feelings of gratitude and exhaustion, as well as her hope that rebuilding plans will include accessibility considerations [01:02:52].

Narrator portrait depicts Priya with her pet dog outside her residence in Asheville, NC, December 17, 2025. Photo by Bill Green Photography. Six additional images contributed by Priya are screenshots of DIYabled Instagram posts shared in the aftermath of Helene.]]> Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections]]> October 20, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Rachel Sharp]]> October 18, 2024]]> Digital Photograph]]> Rachel Sharp]]> September 29, 2024]]> Digital Photograph]]> Anonymous]]> September 28, 2024]]> Digital Photograph]]> Allison Lienemann]]> December 15, 2025]]> Digital Document]]> Oral histories]]>
Wells recounts how Helene impacted the rural communities she represents and how she responded to the storm in her capacity as a county commissioner. She describes how Helene affected her family [00:09:48], then coordinating aid and visiting hard-hit areas such as Barnardsville, Reems Creek, and Swannanoa [00:13:56]. Key topics include the unique challenges faced by mountain farmers [00:23:04], longer-term impacts such as heightened wildfire risks [00:31:13], and the critical role community centers play in disaster response [00:43:15]. Wells concludes by reflecting on the past year's progress towards recovery [00:54:34] and how community relationships can transcend political divisions [01:05:34].

Narrator portrait depicts Terri on a walkway bridge on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens at UNC Asheville, January 5, 2026. Photo by Bill Green Photography.

Seventeen additional photos contributed by Terri Wells depict various locations and people discussed during the interview, including relief efforts in Leicester, Sandy Mush, Barnardsville, and Weaverville, mostly September 25 – October 11, 2024, plus one photo from December 3, 2025.
]]> Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections]]> October 20, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]>
Maeve recounts the events of the recovery effort, describing the first campus-wide meetings after the storm [00:16:04] and new work routines [00:23:12]. They recount the false alarm about the Bee Tree Dam that occurred on Sunday night [00:26:32], how their work evolved as student workers settled into a productive rhythm [00:37:57], and the story behind the Skeleton Crew, nine essential workers who stayed after campus closed [00:42:13]. They close by describing students' return to campus after a month of recovery [00:47:03] and reflect on the college's decisions and over growth as a leader, worker, and institution [00:54:40].

Narrator portraits depict Maeve outside the pig pen of the agricultural utility buildings of Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC, November 20, 2025. Photos by Bill Green Photography.]]> Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections]]> November 7, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Oral histories]]>
McClung relates his experience of Helene and its aftermath in his community. After the storm, he and his dog Cash were the first therapy dog team to return to Mission Hospital, where they provided emotional support to exhausted staff who shared traumatic survival stories [00:09:28]. He also describes his volunteer work in trail cleanup and maintenance following the storm [00:14:23] and reads poetry he wrote inspired by a nurse’s experience [00:26:51] and the coming of spring [00:28:00].

Portrait depicts McClung with his dog in the driveway of his home residence , December 11, 2025.]]> Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections]]> May 30, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Kyra Cavanaugh]]> October 28, 2024]]> Digital Document]]> Isaac Denzer ]]> December 12, 2025]]> Digital Document]]>
Merrimon Featherstone, pioneer early settler in Buncombe (now Henderson) County built and operated a dam, sash sawmill and grist mill in the early 1800s on what is now known as Featherstone Creek. All was lost in the great flood of 1916. Later, in the 1930s, his descendant, Ambrose Mills Featherstone, rebuilt the dam, a power plant, and a camp that catered to tourists. In the 1940s or '50s, he found the larger mill stone down the creek and returned it to the family property at the entrance of the Brookside Camp, that he ran with his wife Eula. The long-lost smaller grindstone was found downstream of the original sawmills and recovered after Helene. ]]> Anonymous]]> December 14, 2024]]> Digital Photograph]]> Madison County Public Library]]> November 18, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Mindy Coleman]]> December 19, 2025]]> Digital Document]]> Madison County Public Library]]> December 12, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Madison County Public Library]]> December 2, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]> Jaclyn Smith]]> May 21, 2025]]> Paper]]> Oral histories]]>
Tipps recounts his experiences in Black Mountain and Asheville during and after Tropical Storm Helene, including its impact on his farm property in Black Mountain [00:07:25]. He describes walking in the Black Mountain community near Lake Tomahawk and the dam [00:10:27], then attempting to reach family in Swannanoa and seeing the Swannanoa River Road area first hand in Asheville [00:16:13]. He recounts an experience at an Asheville hotel where a large crowd gathered to access WiFi and how it affirmed his sense of community [00:22:18].

Photo provided courtesy of the narrator. ]]> Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections]]> May 15, 2025]]> Digital Audio Recording]]>