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Coupland native Ella Jordan, a professional fiddler who now lives in Nashville, on Sept. 26 experienced firsthand the devastation in Asheville, North Carolina, caused by Hurricane Helene.
She and a friend expected to spend a relaxing overnight visit with his family in Asheville when disaster struck, she said.
“As it turned out, we were unknowingly driving into one of the most devastating weather events in U.S. history,” Jordan said. “We went to sleep thinking the storm would pass quickly. We woke up to a whole region
in crisis.”
According to reports, authorities say the hurricane and resulting floods claimed the lives of at least 230 victims across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee in addition to North Carolina. Damages are estimated at $53 billion.
“The tragedy we witnessed over the week we spent in Asheville is seared into my mind. It was a time filled with unspeakable heartbreak, and also with some of the most touching and inspiring moments of community I have ever seen,” the fiddler said.
Jordan and her friend volunteered to do welfare checks and saw homes, lives and livelihoods destroyed, she said. They also experienced neighbors coming together and sharing food, water and whatever they could salvage, Jordan added.
“This is the home of people I love and music I have spent my life playing,” she said. “So, if you can, I ask that you consider donating to recovery efforts focused on western North Carolina.”
Many residents are still missing, and power is only slowly being restored, the musician noted.
A raffle supported by Jordan offers a worldclass mandolin to support recovery efforts. “We are partnering with a bigger organization to get a bigger audience for the raffle,” she said.
To help, email her at ellabebejordan@yahoo. com.
