Four days after their home was swept away by the Swannanoa River, Tommy and Mary Moss, along with their son Dallas, returned to Asheville, N.C., to sift through the remnants of their life together. Dallas immediately began digging through the mud, hoping to uncover memories of his deceased brother, but after ten days of searching, they found only a few sentimental items amidst the debris.
The devastation was extensive due to Hurricane Helene, which claimed over 100 lives in North Carolina and caused an estimated $53 billion in damages. The Moss family, having lived in their home for more than 40 years, saw generations of family photographs and mementos washed away by the floodwaters.
Unexpectedly, weeks later, Dallas was tagged in a Facebook post by local police, revealing that several family photos had been recovered from the debris about a mile from their home. Among these were cherished images of Dallas and his brother, which brought a bittersweet sense of relief to the family.
In their neighborhood, dubbed "Botany Woods," once lively traditions and community bonds have been disrupted. The flood on September 27 devastated many homes; 11 were reported to have floated away. Community members now face the reality of lost possessions and altered lives, as neighbors scatter and abandon plans to rebuild.
One officer, Detective Sam DeGrave, played a pivotal role in recovering photographs while conducting search-and-rescue operations. He discovered personal images amid the debris, leading to the collection of around 300 family photos that various community members could reclaim after the disaster.
With the help of a dedicated Instagram account, families began to reunite with their lost photographs, allowing them to share memories despite the empirical loss of their homes. The Moss family met with other community members to exchange found photos, underscoring the importance of these artifacts that capture their family's history.
In the aftermath, the look and fabric of the neighborhood have fundamentally changed, with many residents now residing elsewhere as they come to terms with their losses.