Ruben Arellano, Veronica Rios and their children were one of many families forced to leave their homes because of flood damage in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. Six months later, they were preparing to move back home thanks to work spearheaded by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte and funded by generous donors from across the diocese. (Troy C. Hull) SWANNANOA — In the early morning hours of Sept. 27, Ruben Arellano and Veronica Rios fled their home in the Alan Campos Mobile Home Park along with their two children, two cats and their dog as floodwaters from Tropical Storm Helene started to rise all around Swannanoa. They fled to higher ground at a nearby gas station and then to a friend’s house as Helene’s heavy rains pounded the area.
“We saw the water rising, and could hear the sirens and the trees creaking,” Arellano said through an interpreter. “We saw all the destruction and knew there was going to be a problem.”
That afternoon when the rains stopped, the family returned to their mobile home and found more than two feet of water inside. Furniture had floated from one end of the rooms to the other. Beds, mattresses, chairs, electronics and almost all of their possessions “except for clothes which were hanging higher up” were soaked through and ruined.
Ruben, Veronica and their children, like many other residents of the mobile home park, were forced out of their home by the flood damage. Six months later in late March, they – and others from Alan Campos – were preparing to move back home.
Their return was possible because, in October, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte stepped in and began the work of bringing Alan Campos back to life. Some of the funds the agency raised from local donors as well as folks in all 50 states went toward the $200,000 spent thus far on repairing the flooded homes, providing drywall, flooring, lumber, paint, furniture and other needs. HVAC systems were repaired, and the mobile homes were raised so they would not be vulnerable to future flooding.
Catholic Charities contracted Community Organized Relief Effort, a global crisis response organization, to do the repairs. Antonio Garcia, a Hispanic Ministry coordinator in the Asheville Vicariate, helped coordinate the effort.
Hundreds of volunteers from the diocese and across the country came to the park. Some came as part of organized efforts, and many more arrived on their own, just looking for a way to help.
The devastation was difficult to see but Arellano, a painter by trade, found something to be thankful for.
“I told my family at least we had something to start over with – so many others in the region lost their home completely,” he said through an interpreter.
He was at the park every day, pitching in to help with work when he could and installing the flooring himself. Seeing so many people willing to help his family and others return home kept him going.
“People would work here for hours, for days,” he said. “We were so blessed to have all of them come here.”
Maria Ortega and Juventino Roblero, members of St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, just moved back into their completed home, which took on three feet of water and had to be completely gutted and rebuilt.
On the morning of the storm, Roblero had to walk out of the flooding park with his daughter and two grandchildren. For more than 12 hours, he couldn’t locate Ortega, who was stranded at her job at a local motel and stayed at a Good Samaritan’s house overnight before being reunited with her family.
The couple said witnessing all the help from others and their faith got them through the storm and their time away from home.
“We prayed and put ourselves in God’s hands,” Ortega said through an interpreter.
Two days after the six-month anniversary of Helene, the bulk of the work at the park was completed and more than 200 people celebrated with music, laughter, dancing and prayer.
Homemade food was served under decorated tents and children played in an inflatable bounce house. People danced to party favorites like the Macarena and an African drum group from Asheville performed.
“Isn’t it wonderful to have something to celebrate?” one woman asked aloud.
Gerry Carter, executive director and CEO of Catholic Charities, reflected on the work done and the labor yet to come, saying, “We’re here for the long term.”
“In the first months after the storm we led the way with the work in this community, and now all these families and children have a safe place to live,” Carter said. “We’re going to keep at this in western North Carolina until we don’t have a dime left and as many people as possible are back in their homes.”
— Christina Lee Knauss
Related stories:
Gratitude and need remain great in WNC
After the storm, Swannanoa parish brings ‘esperanza’
Families return to Swannanoa mobile home park
Donors help Catholic Charities ‘rebuild lives’
Sister parishes help ease storm’s impact
Storm stories: The region begins to recover
