According to ABC news, “ Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on Sept. 26. More than 230 people have been killed from Hurricane Helene, which unleashed devastation across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.”
North Carolina has faced a tragic amount of loss in the past weeks due to Hurricane Helene. According to ncdhhs.gov, “There are 98 verified storm-related fatalities in North Carolina as of Oct. 27, 2024.”
North Carolina traditionally faces mild floods during Hurricane season but this time around it was a little bit different. Hurricane Helene left devastating effects on Asheville, a small town in North Carolina.
English teacher Haley Olds had her classes write letters to the residents of Asheville that were victims of this horrific Hurricane.
Levi Valdez, Taft sophomore, empathizes with the victims of Hurricane Helene, “I’ve never been affected by a Hurricane, but I have lost some pretty important family members of mine, so in a way I can understand their losses.”
Olds, native to the Carolinas, said, “I am from Myrtle Beach. Hurricane Matthew famously hit when I was in college, a lot of trees fell, a lot of people were without homes. I was also a journalist and had to stay over at the newspaper that I worked at overnight, I was on the emergency alert team,” Olds said.
According to the US Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District Website, “Helene’s storm brought 140 mph winds in one of the largest wind fields to ever hit the southeast, rain, storm surges, flooding, and tornadic activity.”
Olds’ inspiration to write the letters was not only from her connections to the Carolinas but her want to increase empathy in her students. “I’ve been thinking alot about how to increase empathy amongst the students.”
“I know a lot of the time we see something on the news and we are desensitized by it… It also helps that I am from the area and know people that were affected,” Olds continued.
Diana Fink, Taft sophomore, empathizes with the victims as well, “I think it’s really disappointing and sad to see the homes and victims affected, I think it’s just horrible to see and I hope that things will get better as well.”
“I do believe the Hurricane was taken seriously, however I do think they were ill prepared. They never had that experience before, I think if they had there would be a better understanding,” Olds expressed.
The knowledge of the Hurricane was mainly consumed by Americans mainly via social media, as well as keeping a tight grasp on people all around the world.
“I’ve seen it all over Tik Tok mostly, I’ve seen it on the news as well but mostly on Tik Tok,” stated Taft sophomore, Sofiya Abbas.
Olds plans on sending physical copies of the letters to a letter drive in Asheville. She found this drive on Facebook. The drive sends physical and electronic letters to the victims of Hurricane Helene who are seeking support.
Olds want to increase empathy within the students. All of her students wrote the letters and empathized with the victims of this horrific hurricane thanks to Olds actions to increase empathy within the students.
