AVERY COUNTY, N.C. — Residents in Avery County, one of the hardest hit counties by Hurricane Helene, are reeling with the impacts of devastating flooding and widespread damage.
Entire homes have floated down swollen rivers and streets in the area. Dozens of people have reported their loved ones missing and service in the area is touch and go.
Finding the right words to describe the damage is difficult, but there is a word Jessica Meidinger said she's had to hold on to.
"You have to keep hope right now," Meidinger said. "We’ve been able to piece things together from neighbors' accounts who live in the area.”
She said right now her mom is missing.
"Their house is like right off of Elk River well it was," Meidinger said. "We heard at 11:30 that their house was swept away by the river.”
Her stepfather swam to the shore and reached safety, but her mom, Kim Ashby, said days later she was still unaccounted for.
“It remains scary but the more touch points you get the more hope you get," Meidinger said.
That feeling of hope stretched beyond Meidinger. Kim Ashby is just one of the many people who have reported missing. Each post in the Facebook group is a different family member looking for a loved one.
Avery County 911 services have been cut off due to the damage in the area. Officials are advising anyone with an emergency to email averycopio@gmail.com.
The death toll from Helene has climbed to 90 as of Sunday night. At least 30 people from North Carolina and 25 people from South Carolina have been reported dead.