A Devastating Week

Hello friends. I have been so sad this past week. Hurricane Helene hit some of our surrounding areas really hard, devastatingly hard, life changing hard. Fortunately for us, our hometown was spared. But I feel so much for the people who are without a home and some without loved ones. It’s just too unbearable to think about.

Last Tuesday my sister, niece and I headed out for our annual three day Sister trip. We always go to Gatlinburg Tennessee and rent a condo. We don’t really do a lot we usually visit a couple of attractions and read and eat and work jigsaw puzzles. You get the idea. It is always a lot of fun.

We arrived on Tuesday and the rain started early Wednesday morning. Early Wednesday morning we decided to drive over the mountain to Cherokee North Carolina. It was about an hour drive and it rained the entire time. We didn’t stay long because visibility on the roads was so bad we wanted to get back. We did see some beautiful elk along the way and a bear.

By Thursday the rain had intensified. We knew a hurricane was about to make landfall in Florida on Friday. We decided to cut our trip short and get home. I am so glad we did. The Gatlinburg area did not have a lot of flooding but it was still a lot of rain and that caused a lot of standing water on the roads. I think we all felt better getting back home. Cutting our trip short was nothing compared to what so many people experienced.

Parts of East Tennessee, only about an hour from us, and Western North Carolina was hit really hard. A few weeks ago I was at a meeting at Chimney Rock Park in Chimney Rock, North Carolina. I did a post about it here. Now the downtown area is gone. The streets are mud. Most of the shops are gone. The roads are gone. People are stranded in their homes. It’s bad.

Lake Lure Before
Lake Lure after
Downtown Chimney Rock (This was the road through Main Street)
Downtown Chimney Rock

I apologize for the blurry pictures. Some of them were taken from Instagram, FaceBook and TikTok.

One thing I know is that these people are resilient and they will rebuild and stand united with each other, and help out in any way they can. People in our area are packing boxes of food, supplies and clothes to be taken to Asheville and other parts of Western North Carolina.

I guess I have been into myself this week thinking about loss. If you pray please send up a prayer for all of these people. All of the people and places who have been affected by this tragedy. Hug your loved ones close and tell people that you love them every chance you get.

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!

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Published by Lisa -Southern Patches

Hello everyone, my name is Lisa I am a southern girl born and raised in East Tennessee. I love discovering new places and things to do. I have a lot of favorites, shopping, traveling, knitting and photography are all at the top of my list. I am married with my fur babies my only children. This blog is actually named after my beloved basset hound Patches. She passed away a few years ago but will always have a huge part of my heart. Come with me and we will explore some wonderful places and discover some really fun things. Are you ready?

14 thoughts on “A Devastating Week”

  1. So very, very sorry about all who have suffered because of that terrible storm. We have family in Asheville who luckily escaped the worst. So glad you cut your getaway short and that you and your sisters are safe.

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  3. It’s so heart-breaking. We’ve been to Chimney Rock in the past and when I saw the photos of the area now, it’s just awful. Glad you arrived home safe and sound and were spared the hurricane’s wrath.

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  4. I’m so happy to see your post because you have been on my mind and in my prayers. My sister and broth-in-law are in Mountain City and while they and their home are ok, many in their area are not. We have had on and off phone contact with them since Friday but at least she has been able to keep us posted. We are praying for all who have been affected by this.

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    1. Thank you so much. We feel incredibly lucky and blessed that we were spared but feel so bad for all the people who were not. I just told my husband it almost brings me to tears that my blogging buddies have been so caring and concerned. ❤️

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  5. Sending BIG prayers your way and to the all people affected by this horrible storm. I am not online as much and they don’t seem to be talking about this alot so I am just now seeing what has happened to your home state…it is heartbreaking. May God comfort and give them strength during this time, which I know He will. The people of North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida…they have some of the strongest faith I have ever witnessed. You’re right when you wrote they will build back…God made them strong for a reason.

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