DUNMORE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— It's been one month since Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina.
A woman with ties to our area who lives in Asheville, North Carolina says her community is still in need of help.
Lindsay Barrasse is a Dunmore native. She and her husband moved to Asheville five years ago where they started their family. They were there when September's devastating flooding from Helene took place.
Flood water filled the streets after Hurricane Helene violently swept through Asheville. Homes and businesses were destroyed by the deadly storm.
"You're just kind of like in this state of survival," expressed Barrasse.
While they experienced just minor flooding in their home, they were without power, cell service, and running water, and their city was in ruins.
This gave Lindsay, her husband Dave, and their 18-month-old son Jack no choice but to get out.
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The trip was far from easy.
"You know you're on the highway and everyone's just stopped," explained Asheville resident Dave Corigliano.
The hurricane destroyed dozens of roads.
"And then we start to see cars drive back within the same lane yelling out 'its flooded," said Corigliano.
After hours of trying, the family finally made it to the highway and to safety.
They're currently staying with family in Florida.
They've made their way back to Asheville several times since to gather their things and donate supplies to neighbors who were hit much harder.
The couple says rebuilding is far from finished.
"Western North Carolina desperately needs the help of others nationwide," voiced Barrasse.
Many people are still without homes, and lots of roads remain out of service.
"They have the tents set up where their homes used to be, and they have people getting supplies to them by mules and walking things in," explained Barrasse.
Despite the devastation and heartbreak, Barrasse says her community is one full of love and support.
"When we first moved to Asheville, not even 24 hours later someone knocked on our door with eggs from their chickens, and that's the type of community it is," said Barrasse.
Barrasse says she knows Asheville and the rest of western North Carolina will come out stronger on the other side.
In order for those communities to recover they desperately need help as Lindsay mentioned.
Beloved Ashevillehttps://www.belovedasheville.com/World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/
Footprint Projecthttps://www.footprintproject.org/
The NC Arts Disaster Relief Fundhttps://www.ncartsfoundation.org/donate-nc-disaster-reliefEmergency Relief for Arts - ArtsAVL is a nonprofit 501(c)3; EIN 58-1371546 - Asheville Area Arts Council (dba ArtsAVL).https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/vUERlqvYdanI34MqdhwtSAMail Donations via Amazon
REVOL Church (Asheville Dream Center’s Base – 399 Beaverdam Rd, Asheville, NC 28804) – accepting supplies & passing out supplies at REVOL Church. They are also delivering to communities in need.
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