After the Storm

On the morning of September 27, 2024, 15-year-old Evelyn Sarellano Paez woke up in her house near Asheville, North Carolina. Right away, it was clear that something was wrong.

Evelyn’s parents, Maria and Lisandro, were talking in low, worried voices. Her 17-year-old brother, Sebastian, was staring out the window with concern. Rawy, the family’s dog, was watching them all nervously.

“What’s going on?” Evelyn asked, panic squeezing her chest. Her family told her to look outside. So she went to the window—and saw a nightmare unfolding.

Rain was gusting furiously down from the sky. Giant trees were snapping like twigs. Muddy brown water swirled all around their house, already more than 2 feet deep . . . and still rising.

Evelyn stared in shock. She’d known that a big storm, Hurricane Helene, had been expected to head their way. But the storm had first hit Florida, hundreds of miles south. Like many people, Evelyn had assumed the storm would fizzle out before it reached North Carolina. 

Now, however, she watched as it ripped her neighborhood to shreds. The dark water was rising higher and higher around their house, showing no signs of slowing down. 

The family realized they had to get out—now. 

On the morning of September 27, 2024, 15-year-old Evelyn Sarellano Paez woke up in her house near Asheville, North Carolina. Right away, she knew something was wrong.

Evelyn’s parents, Maria and Lisandro, were talking quietly. Her older brother, Sebastian, was looking out the window with worry. Rawy, the family’s dog, was watching them all nervously.

“What’s going on?” Evelyn asked. Her family told her to look outside. So she went to the window. What she saw looked like a nightmare.

It was raining hard. Giant trees were breaking like twigs. Muddy brown water flowed around their house. The water was more than 2 feet deep and still rising.

Evelyn was shocked. She’d known a big storm, Hurricane Helene, was coming their way. But the storm had first hit hundreds of miles south. Like many people, Evelyn had thought the storm would fade before it got to North Carolina. 

Now she watched as it destroyed her neighborhood. The water was rising higher around their house. It didn’t look like it was slowing down. 

Her family had to get out—now. 

In the weeks leading up to that morning, Evelyn had been settling into 10th grade. She and Sebastian, a 12th grader, were both starting off a new season on the school’s cross-country running team. In her spare time, Evelyn loved going on practice runs through the hilly park near her house in Swannanoa, a small community just outside Asheville.

The Asheville area is known for its stunning natural beauty. The city is nestled between two mighty rivers, surrounded by soaring mountains. Millions of tourists flock there each fall, when the region’s forests turn bright red and orange. And in recent years, the city’s population has boomed. New residents have been drawn to its leafy hiking trails, charming art galleries, and world-class restaurants. 

Perhaps most appealing of all? The weather. Asheville is sheltered by mountains and far from the coast, with pleasant temperatures year-round. It has often been said to be safe from extreme weather events, like hurricanes.

Weeks earlier, Evelyn had started 10th grade. She and Sebastian were both on their school’s cross-country running team. Evelyn loved going on runs near her house in Swannanoa, a small community just outside Asheville.

The Asheville area is known for its natural beauty. The city is between two big rivers. It’s surrounded by tall mountains. In recent years, more people have moved there. They have come to explore the area’s hiking trails, art galleries, and restaurants. 

Many people came to enjoy the area’s weather. Asheville is protected by mountains and is far from the ocean. It has pleasant temperatures all year. It has been said to be safe from extreme weather events, like hurricanes.

So when Evelyn and her family heard a storm was coming, they weren’t too worried. Hurricanes are fueled by warm ocean water. Usually, they weaken as they move over land. And Hurricane Helene was set to strike first on the northwest coast of Florida, more than 400 miles away from Asheville. 

But as Evelyn and her family would soon learn, this was no ordinary storm. 

Nearly a week before, when the hurricane began forming in the Caribbean Sea, the water and air there were abnormally warm. This is in part because of climate change, which is causing temperatures to rise around the globe. 

The high temperatures meant there was a lot of moisture in the air as the storm formed. Heavy rain clouds took shape, spinning faster and faster in the growing wind. Then they slurped up even more moisture as they raced over the warm sea, heading straight toward the southern U.S.

So when Evelyn and her family heard a storm was coming, they weren’t too worried. Hurricanes are powered by warm ocean water. Usually, they weaken as they move over land. And Hurricane Helene was set to hit first more than 400 miles away from Asheville. 

But as Evelyn and her family would soon learn, this was no ordinary storm. 

When the hurricane began forming in the Caribbean Sea, the water and air there were abnormally warm. This is in part because of climate change, which is causing Earth’s temperatures to rise. 

The high temperatures meant there was a lot of moisture in the air as the storm formed. Heavy rain clouds took shape. They spun quickly in the growing wind. They pulled up even more moisture over the warm sea. Then the storm headed straight toward the southern U.S.

Late on September 26, Helene barreled into Florida. The powerful hurricane brought vicious winds of 140 miles per hour, shoving giant waves of ocean water onshore. It then curved north toward nearby states, including North Carolina. 

As it traveled farther onto land, the storm’s winds slowed down. But Helene continued on its devastating path, powered by all the extra water it had sucked up on its journey over the ocean.

In the early morning of September 27, while Evelyn was still sleeping, the storm reached Asheville. Moisture-filled air slammed up against the mountains, unleashing a downpour over the city. “Visualize the storm as a water-soaked sponge hitting a wall,” explains Samuel Muñoz, an extreme weather expert at Northeastern University. “You’re squeezing out a lot of water quickly.”

Torrents of rain rushed down the mountains toward the city. The area’s two main rivers overflowed. In just hours, Asheville was disappearing under endless waves of muddy water. 

Late on September 26, Helene barreled into Florida. The hurricane brought strong winds of 140 miles per hour. Giant waves of ocean water hit the shore. The hurricane then moved north toward North Carolina. 

As the storm got farther onto land, its winds slowed. But Helene continued on its path, powered by all the extra water it had sucked up earlier over the ocean.

In the morning of September 27, while Evelyn was still sleeping, the storm reached Asheville. Moisture-filled air hit the mountains. That released heavy rain over the city. “Picture the storm as a water-soaked sponge hitting a wall,” explains Samuel Muñoz. He’s an extreme weather expert. “You’re squeezing out a lot of water quickly.”

Torrents of rain rushed down the mountains toward the city. The area’s two main rivers overflowed. In just hours, Asheville was disappearing under muddy water. 

Watching the water rise around their house that morning, the Sarellano Paez family knew they didn’t have much time. They decided to head to a neighbor’s house on higher ground. Evelyn picked up their dog, Rawy. Then the family stepped out into the raging storm.

Everywhere, there was water—dirty and freezing and up to their waists. Evelyn slogged through the swirling currents with Rawy in her arms. All around her, her neighborhood was being torn apart. “I started seeing everything just collapsing: trees breaking down, houses getting filled with junk,” Evelyn remembers. 

At last, they made it to their neighbor’s house. No one was home, but Lisandro was able to break in through a window. Safely inside, the family watched in horror as their own home down the hill was almost completely swallowed up by the floods. 

All across the Asheville area, similar scenes of destruction were playing out. Houses were lifted off the ground and whisked away in the powerful currents. Giant trucks were flung into trees. Wet soil broke loose and raced down steep mountain slopes, taking out everything in its path. 

The Sarellano Paez family watched the water rise around their house that morning. They knew they didn’t have much time. So they decided to go to a neighbor’s house. It was on higher ground. Evelyn picked up their dog, Rawy. Then the family went out into the raging storm.

There was water everywhere. It was dirty and cold and up to their waists. Holding Rawy, Evelyn slogged through the swirling currents. All around her, her neighborhood was being torn apart. “Trees breaking down, houses getting filled with junk,” Evelyn remembers. 

At last, they made it to their neighbor’s house. No one was home, but Lisandro was able to break in. Safely inside, the family watched in horror as their home down the hill was almost covered by the floods. 

All across the Asheville area there were similar terrible scenes. Houses were torn apart by water. Giant trucks were thrown into trees. Wet soil broke loose and raced down mountains, taking everything in its way. 

The Sarellano Paez family’s break from the storm didn’t last long. By midmorning, water began seeping up through the floorboards and underneath the doors of their neighbor’s house. Sebastian and Lisandro started shoving everything they could find against the doors and windows: mattresses, chairs, towels, sheets. Yet the water kept rising.

For the family, there was nothing left to do but pray. Evelyn found herself thinking of something her running coach would say during long and difficult races. “She says, ‘Don’t think about what’s going on during the competition. Just know that you’re going to make it to the end,’ ” Evelyn says. “That quote really helped me get through what was happening. I knew it was all going to be over soon. I knew we were going to make it out alive.” 

And she was right. After about two hours, to the family’s great relief, the water in the house began to go down.

The family’s break from the storm didn’t last long. Soon, water began coming up through the floor and under the doors of their neighbor’s house. Sebastian and Lisandro pushed everything they could find against the doors and windows: mattresses, chairs, towels, sheets. But the water kept rising.

For the family, there was nothing left to do but pray. Evelyn thought of something her running coach would say during long and difficult races. “She says, ‘Don’t think about what’s going on during the competition. Just know that you’re going to make it to the end,’ ” Evelyn says. “That quote really helped me get through what was happening. I knew it was all going to be over soon. I knew we were going to make it out alive.” 

And she was right. After about two hours, the water in the house began to go down.

By later that day, the worst of the storm had passed in western North Carolina. But to many residents, it felt more like the area had been hit by a giant explosion than a flood. 

Neighborhoods had been transformed into wide brown lakes, filled with upside-down cars and huge chunks of debris. Thousands of homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed, every inch coated with thick mud. Bridges had collapsed, forests had been flattened, and pavement had been ripped off roads. Water pipes, electricity, and cell phone service were knocked out.

Thousands of people were trapped in their homes with no way to call for help. Rescue workers combed through the area in boats and helicopters, plucking people from rooftops and the tops of trees. 

Swannanoa, where Evelyn’s family lived, was one of the hardest-hit areas. When the flooding outside their neighbor’s house finally went down, Sebastian and Lisandro returned to their own home to see what was left. They found it tilted at an odd angle, with a giant tree smashed through the front porch. Inside, it looked even worse.   

“There was broken glass everywhere,” Sebastian remembers. “Whatever we used to have in there was unrecognizable. Everything was mud.”    

By later that day, the worst of the storm had passed in western North Carolina. To many, it felt like the area had been hit by a big explosion. 

Neighborhoods had turned into big brown lakes, filled with cars and huge pieces of debris. Thousands of homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed. Mud covered everything. Bridges had fallen. 

Forests had been flattened. Sidewalks had been ripped off roads. Water pipes, electricity, and cell phone service had stopped working.

Thousands of people were trapped in their homes with no way to call for help. Rescue workers got to people by using boats and helicopters. They picked up people from rooftops and the tops of trees. 

Swannanoa, where Evelyn’s family lived, was one of the hardest-hit areas. When the flooding outside their neighbor’s house finally went down, Sebastian and Lisandro returned to their home. They found it tilted. A giant tree had smashed through the front porch. Inside, it looked even worse.   

“There was broken glass everywhere,” Sebastian remembers. “Everything was mud.” 

The impact of the storm stunned the region. Yet even as people reeled from the disaster, they began springing into action to help each other.

The air filled with the buzz of chain saws as neighbors teamed up to clear roads of fallen trees. Volunteers handed out water, food, clothing, and other emergency supplies. Residents gathered in each other’s homes to shovel out muck and clean up debris.

Evelyn and Sebastian found that helping others kept their minds off their own losses. Evelyn and her grandmother served homemade meals to neighbors. Sebastian and his friends began volunteering wherever they were needed, clearing wreckage and handing out food and water. 

“I knew that other people were going through the same things that I was, and they needed somebody to be there for them,” Sebastian says. “That’s who I wanted to be.”

The impact of the storm shocked the region. Yet even as people reeled from the disaster, they began to help each other.

Neighbors cleared fallen trees from roads. Volunteers handed out water, food, clothing, and other supplies. Residents got together in each other’s homes to clean up muck and debris.

Evelyn and Sebastian found that helping others kept their minds off their own losses. Evelyn and her grandmother served meals to neighbors. Sebastian and his friends began helping wherever they were needed. They cleared debris and gave out food and water. 

“I knew that other people were going through the same things that I was, and they needed somebody to be there for them,” Sebastian says. “That’s who I wanted to be.”

Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction more than 500 miles long. The storm blew through five states before dying out: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The amount of rain that fell in five days could have filled 60 million Olympic-size swimming pools. Tragically, more than 250 people were killed, nearly a third of them from flooding in North Carolina. It was the deadliest storm to strike the mainland U.S. in nearly 20 years.

Places like Asheville and Swannanoa may take years to fully rebuild. But in the meantime, there has been progress. By the time this story was written, major roads and water systems had been restored. Many shops, hotels, and restaurants had reopened.

Evelyn and her family were able to rebuild their home, with help from an online fundraiser and charity groups. This September, she is starting 11th grade. As she returns to her school’s running team, she’s aiming to hit new personal records. Living through Helene, Evelyn says, has helped her realize that she can achieve more than she thought possible. 

Most of all, the experience has helped her appreciate each new day. “I feel a lot more grateful for what I have and that I shouldn’t take anything for granted,” Evelyn says. 

Hurricane Helene destroyed an area more than 500 miles long. The storm blew through five states before dying out: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The amount of rain that fell in five days could have filled 60 million Olympic-size swimming pools. Sadly, more than 250 people were killed. Many of them died from flooding in North Carolina. It was the deadliest storm to strike the mainland U.S. in nearly 20 years.

Places like Asheville and Swannanoa may take years to fully rebuild. But there has been progress. By the time this story was written, major roads and water systems had been restored. Many shops, hotels, and restaurants had reopened.

Evelyn and her family were able to rebuild their home, with help from an online fundraiser and charity groups. This September, she is starting 11th grade. As she returns to her school’s running team, she’s hoping to run faster than she ever has before. Living through Helene, Evelyn says, has helped her realize that she can do more than she thought she could. 

Most of all, the experience has helped her appreciate each new day. “I feel a lot more grateful for what I have and that I shouldn’t take anything for granted,” Evelyn says.