Asha Wild

I'm in shock.

The last teeny tiny shred of hope that I had that we wouldn't get totally and utterly fcked by this disaster is now gone.

I have never, ever felt this alone.
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#hurricane #HurricaneHelene #swannanoa #asheville #ashevillenc #ashevillelocal #Helene2024 #NorthCarolina

But being seen—really seen—by someone who cared enough to gently pull out one thorn I didn't know was there meant so much, and suddenly I could breathe again.

In the overall scheme of things... it was a tiny one.

A quiet whisper to my nervous system that cracked the door open to put this one thing down.

It was permission to rest, just a little.

To uncoil just a bit.

“…Or, I can just call her directly. You don’t have to be the middlewoman for no reason,” he said—matter-of-factly.

The tears spilled over before I even knew why.

Through small sobs I said, “I'm so tired. I’ve been the middlewoman for everyone, for seven months. I forgot I didn’t have to be."

I’ve been holding it all together (barely) since Hurricane Helene.

Until one sentence from my best friend cracked me open.

It wasn’t a big thing, just a gentle reminder I didn’t have to do it all.

But it undid me completely.

Omg. One of my all time favorite venues. I used to LOVE The Cedar when I lived in Minneapolis.

Have an incredible show, Jake!

Why can't we edit on this app?

I forgot to add this:

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#hurricane #HurricaneHelene #HurricaneHeleneRelief #hurricanerelief #swannanoa #asheville #ashevillenc #ashevillelocal #Helene2024 #blackmountain #ashevillestrong #NorthCarolina
#wildfire
#forestfire

About me: I have lived Western North Carolina for 18 years.

After losing my home to Hurricane Helene, I remain in the area, helping my community and sharing as much as I can about the experience along the way.

If you wish to donate to my recovery, my Venmo and PayPal handles are both
@ashawild

Please share this, and keep us in your thoughts. I'll be sure to update you.

(Much of this region is a temperate rain forest, so this is *very* unusual)

After weeks of watching and worrying about my friends and family in LA, my sister's house in Texas Burning down, and - of course- massive continued stress and uncertainty about my own situation, this is very scary.

The entire region is heavily forested, but Helene defoliated the trees she didn't down - including the pine trees - so they aren't blocking the winds and are excellent fire fuel, especially when coupled with the very low 20% humidity we've been having.

It's finally here.

We have an active uncontained wildfire in Western North Carolina - unsettling close to where I'm currently staying, with winds blowing towards us.

Oh! I'm glad to see you! I saw that you deactivated your account and was wondering if it was temporary or permanent.

I didn't realize there were private messages here- or that I had to turn them on. I'll figure that out.

P.S. I was interviewed like on national news on Friday!

Please pass this around, to help get the word out.

#westernnc #Asheville #northcarolina #helene #naturaldisaster #Swannanoa #hurricanerelief #hurricanehelene
#blackmountain
#westernorthcarolina
#blueridgemountains

I've passed burn barrels in Swannanoa, and many people are in hot tents - all of which are surrounded by debris and downed trees - a scary combination.

I knew then dangerous was still high here, but I didn't know it was this high and these seem like the worst case circumstances.

Thousands r on flammmable propane and / or space heaters to keep them warm in tents, campers, RVs, or their unfinished and damaged homes.

After my sister's house burning down last week, and watching the fires surround my family and friends in LA for a week...I'm stressed.

Western North Carolina is facing both a high wind advisory and a high fire danger right now, as we head into our second week of very cold temperatures.

Tonight will feel like 6 ° F (-14.44 ° C).

Also, I just found out while I was worried about my friends and family in L A, my sister's house in Texas burned to the ground.

While she and her husband are okay, at least two of her cats didn't make it.

Now seems like a good time to start screaming into the void.

It's snowing in Swannanoa and expected to feel like 0 degrees out tonight.

This weekend will be far far worse - it will stay cold and start dropping inches of ice and snow. We are likely to lose power and may also lose water.

Don't ask me - it's a little uncanny valley over here. Similar, but actually really different. 🤷‍♀️

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#hurricane #HurricaneHelene #HurricaneHeleneRelief #hurricanerelief #swannanoa #asheville #ashevillenc #ashevillelocal #Helene2024 #blackmountain #ashevillestrong #NorthCarolina

About me:

After 18 years in the Asheville area, my home was lost to Helene.

I'm still here, helping my community as much as I can, while sharing about my experience.

If you feel called and are able to donate financially to my recovery, my Vēńmō and PâyPál handles are both @ashawild

P.S. Be on the lookout for Part 2 of this update, which will be much more personal - where I'm at, how I'm doing, and what's going on with our house.

Helene incited a geologic event.

Reshaped the ground.

Rerouted the rivers.

Washed away the land and everything on it.

There can’t be real rebuilding without reimagining, & that takes leadership & vision.

You can't just go back to how things were when the land that was there isn't there anymore.

Between that and the news cycle moving on, we’re all left wondering what will become of us, as the evidence of Helene’s destruction surrounds us.

Comprehensive relief bills have been blocked at both a state & fed level.

Swannanoa is unincorporated, so there is no local leadership to turn to, & no one to advocate for us to higher levels of government - including the county, which has been inadequate in providing help here since the beginning.

I have no idea what the future looks like for this area.

I don't think anyone does.

Most of the folks directly involved are still focused on the immediate thing. The here and now. Which is understandable, given the immense need that still exists.

This means that there is more than one way to get to Asheville from the eastern side of the Swannanoa River. It means less traffic, and far less travel time - the closed bridge added an additional 20 minutes each way to what would normally be a 5 minute trip for me.