Story by Ashley Humphrey
Photos by Chrissy Wang
Lowers:
00:00-00:10- Ashley Humphrey
00:34 -00:44 – Pat and Charlie Gowan, TripleC Campground Owners
1:19-1:25 – Gwen Gowan, Daughter of Pat and Charlie
TRT: 2:33
Script:
Look Live: At the end of September, Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina, including McDowell County and the town of Marion, leaving families displaced and local businesses unable to open.
The Gowan Family was planning to celebrate the 50th anniversary of TripleC campground next year. Instead, they’ll be rebuilding their family business and home.
In addition to the family’s home, TripleC held around 100 campsites. On the morning of September 27th, everything changed. The flood waters rushed off of the mountain, moving their cars and pouring into their home.
“It went from ankle deep to chest deep in 10 minutes and I knew that we had to get out.”
“We could see the water on all the windows, doors in the front of the house so we went out a window in the back”
After escaping, The Gowans and their youngest daughter Liz watched from higher ground as their house collapsed as seen here . They lost everything: family heirlooms, cars, and even some of their pets.
Nat: “This is dad’s old desk”… “I saw that”
“Just glad to be out, glad to be out, because then you start thinking what if we had stayed there, you know, then it would have been bad news.”
The Gowan’s oldest children, Gwen and Joseph, were away at college during the hurricane. Gwen didn’t hear from her family for more than 30 hours.
“I’m getting texts from people from at campground that are like ‘Hey, how’s your family, how’s your house? How are the campers?’ and I’m like ‘I don’t know.’”
She finally got in touch with her family and went to take them supplies.
“I’ve literally never hugged them that long in my life….and then I think once that initial seeing them and seeing they’re okay was over, It kind of started a mourning process of the house, my parent’s belongings they’ve worked for for years, and then the family business.”
Gwen started a GoFundMe to help support her parents–raising over $24,000
“People reaching out to us, donating to us that we don’t even know. You know, it’s just unbelievable. I’ve cried more over that than I have this house: just the goodness of people.”
The family has a long road ahead to rebuild both their family business and home
“If we get the right amount of help, then we will build it back. We will keep going. And if not, we will go plan B and I’m not exactly sure what that is yet.”
“I hope that people don’t just forget about it. And I know it’s easy, ‘cause you see it on the news and you’re like ‘Oh my gosh that’s terrible. Here’s money towards a GoFundMe’ and it’s kind of like ‘Okay,’ but people are going to be rebuilding for years”
I’m Ashley Humphrey, reporting
