NEWLAND, N.C. — Julie Venerable and her husband have spent the last few days sifting through what's left at PackRats military surplus in downtown Newland after Hurricane Helene's devastation.
She's been working inside the store and out, trying to salvage some of the merchandise they were able to recover after Helene's floodwaters swept through the tiny Avery County town.
"I was covered up to my waist when it happened," Venerable said, looking at now-empty display cases in the store, stained by mud and dirt, showing just how high the water rose during the storm. "We saw two others, but this was the worst one yet."
The Venerables were inside the store they've owned for nearly 30 years when Helene caused catastrophic flooding in the North Carolina mountains. Cellphone video captured by the couple shows floodwaters rushing through downtown, including their business and a gas station next door. Debris can be seen floating through the area.
"At first we were just inside, and I decided to take pictures but the waters kept coming and I thought, 'Oh this is bad,'" Venerable said.
The waters surged through Newland's downtown area, flooding out stores and homes in the town of about 700 people. Helene washed away part of the sidewalk in front of their store and surrounding businesses.
"We really know everyone around here," Venerable said. "A lot of people lost their homes and stuff. We are lucky because we still have our home and we will rebuild. It may take a while, but we will be back."
Contact Richard DeVayne at rdevayne@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.