Imagine a tiny mountain town, 20 miles east of Asheville, suddenly turned upside down. Hurricane Helene brought devastation to Swannanoa, with floodwaters reaching heights of at least 10 feet in some spots. The Whitson Avenue Bridge, which crosses the Swannanoa River, collapsed under the sudden downpour of 9 inches of rain.

The Brown mud coated what was left standing of buildings and homes. Cars were flushed out into the streets, creating a eerie landscape. The smell of dust and dirt filled the air whenever the wind kicked up. It's a scene that longtime resident Robert Starks, a 64-year-old disabled Army veteran, couldn’t believe. "To see people losing homes and businesses hurts deep inside," he said, shaking his head in dismay as he walked through the destruction.

Stewart Cody, who owns a local body repair shop, estimated it would take at least two months of cleaning and repairs before he could reopen. Despite not having insurance on his business, Cody's focus was on helping his community get back on its feet. "We have to come together for our neighbors," he said.

Swannanoa Fire Chief Anthony Penland has been sleeping on a cot in his office, working tirelessly with emergency workers and construction crews to restore electricity and city services. They're knocking on each door, asking residents if they need anything or want to be evacuated. "Some parts of our community are inaccessible due to the roads being washed out," Penland said. "The infrastructure is gone."

Biden visited North Carolina but chose not to land in Asheville due to access issues. He plans to travel to Georgia and Florida next. In North Carolina alone, at least 90 people were reported dead on Wednesday, with thousands more still missing.

Despite the tragedy, there's a sense of unity among the residents. They might not know who to blame for not better preparing them for this storm, but they do know that they need each other to rebuild and recover.

Swannanoa's Recovery: A Community United

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