We in Jonesborough and other Northeast Tennessee towns and counties are still in a state of shock and pain one week after Hurricane Helene ravaged our region with floods, fallen trees, broken bridges, and closed hospitals. Hundreds of people are still missing, many families do not have running water or electricity in their homes, and inaccessible roads have prevented people from traveling to purchase groceries and essential medicines. At least three county hospitals have closed due to flooding (including the hospital in Greeneville, where my father was born), and patients at the Unicoi County Hospital had to be airlifted to safety.
In the short time since the disaster, I have been inspired by community members, churches, the Town of Jonesborough and other local governments, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s collective spirit and effort to provide much-needed relief. Together, we will rebuild our homes, schools, roads, water towers, and houses that have been damaged by the flooding of the Nolichucky River and other streams and creeks in the countryside.
I have been, and continue to be, deeply motivated by the compassion and power of the storytellers that I have had the opportunity to meet since relocating to Jonesborough last April. Within moments of announcing that we were cancelling our 2024 National Storytelling Festival, we received messages of encouragement and support from our community. Storytellers from Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, and more have organized fundraisers and collected supplies to bring to community groups in Jonesborough. This weekend, five storytellers who were scheduled to perform at our National Storytelling Festival have organized a benefit performance for Northeast Tennessee at Jonesborough’s newly renovated Jackson Theatre. Not only will the proceeds help with recovery, but also the stories themselves will help heal and comfort our community during this desperate time.
This week, storyteller Donald Davis has performed eight shows at our theater, moving audiences with memories about his beloved hometown of Waynesville, North Carolina (also impacted by Hurricane Helene). Despite the Festival’s cancellation, our Storytelling Live performances will continue through the end of the month as planned. We at the International Storytelling Center are in deep solidarity with communities that are suffering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene and will strive to be a beacon of a respite, solace, and even joy during our region’s recovery.
Michael Carson
President, International Storytelling Center