Western New Yorker living in North Carolina describes aftermath of Hurricane Helene

BUFFALO N.Y. (WIVB) -- Western New Yorker Rylee Langdon, who attends college just 15 minutes away from Asheville, North Carolina, in Swannanoa, described the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in an interview with WIVB News 4 as rescue and clean up efforts continue in the area.

Her dorm room at Warren Wilson College flooded and many of the livestock at the college's farm are now gone.

"Just to see the amount of devastation, you stop having words for it," Langdon said.

Many houses and businesses in the City of Swannanoa, much like Asheville, were washed away.

"Just seeing how the infrastructure has changed, it's unrecognizable," she said. "You can barely even tell that it's that town."

After several days without phone service, Langdon was finally able to connect with her mom, Jill Todero, and survey the damage in the neighboring City of Ashville.

"Having your child 12 hours away is hard enough," Todero said. "Being completely inaccessible and not knowing and then having service go out, it's panicking."

Langdon is grateful to be OK, but also heartbroken and knows the road to rebuild will be a long journey.

"Our water system is going to be down for weeks is what we've been told just due to the high infrastructure damage," Langdon said. "Power won't be restored to communities for weeks as well."

The family is working with organizations based in Asheville to help people affected by Hurricane Helene:

• Volunteers for Beloved Asheville are on the ground collecting and distributing a wide array of supplies.
• Hearts with Hands (Swannanoa/Asheville) is a local organization supplying food to Buncombe County shelters.
• Donations to Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) help pay for motel and food vouchers for local residents and long-term support for those displaced. 

The money raised from this portal will be earmarked for victims of Hurricane Helene.