In the early hours of September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene unleashed devastation on the small community of Fairview, North Carolina, where a landslide triggered by relentless rains claimed the lives of 11 members of the Craig family.
For decades, the Craigs lived in this area, in a cluster of homes affectionately known as “Craigtown,” but in an instant, the familiar homes and shared history were reduced to rubble.
Jesse Craig, 35, a survivor, stood amid the wreckage, struggling to process the enormity of the loss. “My mother and father, my aunt and uncle, my great aunt and uncle — I’ve lost cousins, second cousins, things like that, but 11 people overall from this mudslide,” he said, his voice weighted with grief. The family had lived there for over 80 years, ever since Craig’s grandfather first settled in the area.
Adding to the community’s sorrow, Tony Garrison, a firefighter who served with both the Fairview Fire Department and Garren Creek Fire Department, lost his life along with his nephew Brandon Ruppe, attempting to rescue others, including his own family. Garrison’s bravery was well-known in the community. The Charlotte Fire Department honored Garrison, 51, by saying, “Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and fellow firefighters during this devastating time.”
Garrison leaves behind a wife and two young children, now forced to carry on without him.
The landslide that swept through Craigtown destroyed all three Craig family homes, leaving the area “unrecognizable,” according to Jesse Craig. His wife Mackenzie, also shellshocked by the unimaginable consequences, expressed disbelief, saying it’s hard to grasp what has happened to their community. The area holds deep personal significance for her, and she struggles to imagine it ever being the same. The tragedy has been so profoundly impactful that she still finds it difficult to process.
Brad Wright, cousin to Jesse Craig, shared a poignant image on a Facebook post of a mud-covered American flag attached to a tree limb over the land they call Craigtown. He explained that Jesse raised this flag over the devastated Flat Creek road area, holding generations of their family history where they grew up. He noted that they are just beginning to rebuild their lives from this point forward, with the understanding that their lives have been permanently altered.
The community has stepped up to support the Craigs, raising nearly $216,000 through a GoFundMe page to cover funeral expenses and aid in reconstruction efforts.
The tragedy in Craigtown is just one of many wrought by Hurricane Helene, which has claimed over 230 lives across the southeastern United States. Not far from Fairview, in Green Mountain, Alison Wisley, her fiancé Knox Petrucci, and her two young sons were swept away by floodwaters as they attempted to escape. Their bodies were recovered, although Petrucci’s remains are still missing.
As Fairview and neighboring towns begin the long process of recovery, many in the community struggle with the enormity of their loss.