Two years after Helene: three days of readings across the mountains

Poster for the Hurricane Helene Commemoration: two years later, continuing to rebuild.

Two years ago this week, Hurricane Helene turned the mountains of Western North Carolina into islands. Roads fell into rivers, cell towers went silent, and whole communities were cut off for days. To mark the anniversary, we took Islands in the Sky back to the places whose stories fill its pages.

Where we gathered

Sun27Sept

Main Street Comics & Games
1:30 PM · 82-D S Main St, Marshall, NC 28753
Mon28Sept

Malaprop’s Bookstore
5:00 PM · 55 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801
Tue29Sept

Edneyville Library
3:30 PM · 2 Firehouse Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792

Why we keep telling it

Disaster stories are usually written from the outside: first by officials, then by reporters passing through, and years later by historians. The people who lived it rarely get to write it themselves. Islands in the Sky pairs survivors with professional comics creators so the authority in every story belongs to the person who was there.

We must tell the story. And we must tell it ourselves.

Recovery isn’t a news cycle. It’s years. Every copy sold helps pay Appalachian creators and puts books in local stores, schools and libraries.

Missed the events?

You can watch survivors read their stories, order the book, or find it at an independent shop near you. Teachers can download the free classroom guide.