Inundation
Tom Hansell

“I live on the north fork of the New River in Creston, North Carolina. We were among the thousands of Appalachian communities flooded by Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024. This is probably the most personal film I have ever made. Although my family suffered loss from Hurricane Helene, I consider myself lucky. More than 100 residents of western North Carolina people died in the storm and months after the flood, thousands of people are still without permanent homes.

The film references the power of community coming together after the storm. An important, but often overlooked element is the efforts of our region’s artists to help people process our collective experience. The arts are a powerful way for community members to support one another. And I hope that this film is a small contribution to the larger work of healing our region.”