Helene’s Brutal Lesson: You Will Not Escape The Climate Crisis

The “climate haven” illusion is dead

Ricky Lanusse
The New Climate.

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A rescue team paddles down the Swannanoa River in Asheville, North Carolina, US, after the remnants of Hurricane Helene (Source)

Asheville, the picturesque mountain town in North Carolina, US, seemed like an ideal refuge from the worst effects of a warming world. With its appealing four-season climate, Asheville’s unique geography — a mountain rain shadow — keeps it drier than its neighbors while still offering ample moisture year-round. Moreover, the city’s proactive stance on climate change, evidenced by the integration of climate resilience assessments into its comprehensive planning, showed preparedness and foresight.

A 2018 Rolling Stone article titled ‘Welcome to the Age of Climate Migration’ even suggested “No place is without risk, but in Asheville, the risks seem manageable”.

Then Hurricane Helene made landfall: Mother Nature’s devastating “letter to the editor,” forcefully disproved that assessment.

Helene With a Loud H

With top sustained winds estimated at 140 mph, Helene became the eighth Category 4 hurricane to make…

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