Interview with Nadja Simon
Dublin Core
Title
Interview with Nadja Simon
Description
Nadja Simon, a gym owner whose home in Swannanoa was severely damaged by Tropical Storm Helene, was interviewed by Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections volunteer Susan Kraft on April 29, 2025. This interview took place over Zoom and was conducted as part of the Come Hell or High Water Oral History Project for Buncombe County Special Collections, Pack Memorial Library.
Simon describes realizing the storm’s severity [00:17:33] and deciding to evacuate with her partner Shem and their dog [00:20:01]. Temporarily staying in Brevard, they determined next steps and witnessed the flood’s impact on Shem’s improv space, the Flood Gallery, and other parts of town [00:33:20]. Nadja shares the emotional impact of visiting her gym, which was largely unaffected [00:37:05], and her home, which is no longer inhabitable [00:41:59]. She also describes the support she received from community members and organizations [00:49:15].
Narrator portrait by Bill Green depicts Nadja at her work studio in Woodfin, NC, May 28, 2025. Next ten photos, all taken June 1, 2025, depict: main view of house coming up driveway; Left front side of driveway approach; left side of house heading towards the rear showing fallen trees and debris against the house; left rear side of house depicting fallen trees butting the house on two sides; rear of the house looking back at fallen trees against the house; closer view of rear of house; far left corner of rear property showing tall timber that has fallen; three-quarter view left rear looking back at house showing extent of fallen tree and debris path; similar three-quarter view left rear; and right side of house, side porch showing extent of fallen trees in rear of property.
Two videos and nine photographs taken by Nadja show flooding (September 27, 2024), damage to her property in the immediate aftermath (September 28-October 2, 2024), and months after Helene (last two photos: November 28, 2024).
Simon describes realizing the storm’s severity [00:17:33] and deciding to evacuate with her partner Shem and their dog [00:20:01]. Temporarily staying in Brevard, they determined next steps and witnessed the flood’s impact on Shem’s improv space, the Flood Gallery, and other parts of town [00:33:20]. Nadja shares the emotional impact of visiting her gym, which was largely unaffected [00:37:05], and her home, which is no longer inhabitable [00:41:59]. She also describes the support she received from community members and organizations [00:49:15].
Narrator portrait by Bill Green depicts Nadja at her work studio in Woodfin, NC, May 28, 2025. Next ten photos, all taken June 1, 2025, depict: main view of house coming up driveway; Left front side of driveway approach; left side of house heading towards the rear showing fallen trees and debris against the house; left rear side of house depicting fallen trees butting the house on two sides; rear of the house looking back at fallen trees against the house; closer view of rear of house; far left corner of rear property showing tall timber that has fallen; three-quarter view left rear looking back at house showing extent of fallen tree and debris path; similar three-quarter view left rear; and right side of house, side porch showing extent of fallen trees in rear of property.
Two videos and nine photographs taken by Nadja show flooding (September 27, 2024), damage to her property in the immediate aftermath (September 28-October 2, 2024), and months after Helene (last two photos: November 28, 2024).
Date
Rights
Interview, videos of flooding, and photos 11-19 copyright Nadja Simon and Buncombe County Special Collections. Narrator portrait and photos 1-10 copyright Bill Green Photography.
Format
Language
English
Identifier
MS456.001E
Extent
1 digital video recording (01:01:01); 1 transcript (28 pages); 20 digital photographs; 2 digital video recordings (00:01:12 and 00:00:37)
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Duration
01:01:01
Interviewer
Susan Kraft
Interviewee
Nadja Simon
Location
Collection
Tags
Citation
Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections, “Interview with Nadja Simon,” Come Hell or High Water Community Memory Project, accessed January 13, 2026, https://helenehistory.omeka.net/items/show/1095.