Hurricane Helene has brought unprecedented destruction to the Appalachian mountains. One week after the storm hit, Cam and Jaelin set out in Swannanoa, NC to look beyond the headlines into the lives of those directly impacted.

The goal of this project was to break the fourth wall and bring you into the heart of a community experiencing devastation, resilience, and the full spectrum of human emotion—from despair to hope. We wanted to tell a story that we didn’t see the news stations telling.

This event has been a serious wake up call for those of us who call these mountains home; not only to the reality of the natural world, but also to love and strength of the American spirit to rebuild in the face of tragedy.

List of local charities to donate to:

Beloved Asheville:
IG: @@belovedasheville

Travel Wound Care Clinic:
Venmo: @travelwoundcare

Samaritan's Purse:
IG: @samaritanspurse

MANNA Food Bank:
IG: @manna_foodbank

Local business in need:
https://visitmadisoncounty.com/businessdo...

Update and disclaimer: we have received new information after filming and publishing this video that the man we talked to, going by Toby, was not actually the owner of the property we filmed at from 8:07 11:03. We aren't really sure of all the details of the situation but the property apparently belongs to Joe Bryant. Just wanted this to be clear, thanks again for watching and please help where you can.