Six months ago, Hurricane Helene struck Perry, Florida, and then moved through the southeastern United States, causing catastrophic rainfall, devastating floods, and billions in damages to parts of western North Carolina. The Category 3 hurricane resulted in over 100 fatalities, as reported by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, washing away homes and cherished belongings.
Bat Cave, North Carolina, was hit particularly hard by the flooding, with destroyed and damaged buildings seen in an aerial view on October 8, 2024. Amid the debris lay precious family photos, some of which were discovered by Taylor Schenker during a walk along a riverbank. Schenker began collecting and searching for more photos to help reunite them with their owners.
Determined to return the found photos, Schenker cleaned and shared them on social media under the profile “Photos from Helene.” She managed to reunite nearly 80 photos with their rightful owners, including Mary Moss who lost everything in the flood, but was able to recover some cherished memories through Schenker’s efforts.
The recovery process after Hurricane Helene has been challenging for many, with over 150,000 individuals receiving assistance from FEMA. The storm caused an estimated $60 billion in damages, and officials anticipate a long road to full recovery.
Despite the ongoing project with still many photos unclaimed, Schenker continues her efforts to return memories to those affected by the storm. She considers it a privilege to help people reconnect with their lost treasures and finds solace in supporting them through the grieving process.
