Two members of the Duck Dynasty family were trapped by Hurricane Helene.
Al and Lisa Robertson were in Western North Carolina when Hurricane Helene struck last month. They described what happened during a recent episode of the Unashamed podcast.
My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone that has been effected and are gonna be effected by the hurricane
When the Sky Falls, and So Do the Trees
Al and Lisa were in for a wild ride when they were literally caught flat-footed by Hurricane Helen during a trip to North Carolina. Now, these two aren’t strangers to storms, having weathered a few down in Gulf Shores. But this one? It was different. “It hit us at about 5:30 in the morning, and I admit, I wasn’t ready,” Al shared on the family’s Unashamed podcast.
Imagine waking up to the sound of trees—some as tall as 200 feet—crashing down around you. Even if they’re not falling right on top of you, you can hear them hit the ground for miles. Yikes! Lisa and Al were stuck in the middle of it all, with no power, no cell service, and no way out. Yep, trapped.
After two days of heavy rain (over 20 inches!), the couple’s hopes of making it to their next event were dashed. They tried to venture out but kept hitting roadblocks—literally. Trees and mudslides made every road impassable. Eventually, they had to accept that they were stuck in the mountains until help arrived.
Silver Linings Amid the Chaos
But here’s the thing about Southern folk—they know how to make the best of a bad situation. While the storm wreaked havoc, the Robertsons found some peace knowing their family members were safe. And as always, they turned to prayer and faith to get them through.
As Al put it, “At that moment, I realized we’re trapped. But we’ve got family, and we’re going to make it through this.” Cue the Southern grit and determination!
The Bigger Picture: Hurricane Helen’s Path of Destruction
Al and Lisa’s story is just one example of the havoc Hurricane Helen unleashed across the Southeast. Starting in Florida’s Big Bend region on September 26, Helen made her presence known as the strongest hurricane on record to hit the area. By the time she swept through North Carolina, she had left a trail of destruction in her wake, with a death toll of at least 227 across six states. Thousands remained without power, and many were still unaccounted for.
Oh, and guess what? Just as folks were starting to clean up from Helen, Hurricane Milton was right behind her, threatening to bring even more chaos to Florida. If it feels like nature’s throwing one-two punches, that’s because it is.
Southern Stars Step Up: Concert for Carolina
In true Southern spirit, when disaster strikes, the community rallies. Country music’s biggest names have joined forces to lend a hand to those affected by Hurricane Helen. Luke Combs and Eric Church are headlining the Concert for Carolina on October 26 in Charlotte, North Carolina, with proceeds going straight to relief efforts. And they’re not alone—legendary crooner James Taylor and bluegrass star Billy Strings will be there too!
What’s more, Dolly Parton (yes, the queen herself) pledged a whopping $2 million to hurricane relief, including a personal donation of $1 million. Morgan Wallen and Miranda Lambert have also stepped in, with donations focused on everything from feeding the hungry to supporting animal shelters hit by the storm.
Finding Beauty in the Storm
While hurricanes are anything but fun, there’s something heartwarming about the way communities pull together in times of crisis. Whether it’s country stars donating their time and money or neighbors checking in on one another, there’s a silver lining to be found even in the darkest storm clouds.
So, if you’re reading this and want to get involved, now’s your chance! You can send prayers, positive vibes, or even grab a ticket to the Concert for Carolina. Together, we can help rebuild and support those impacted by Hurricane Helen.
And hey, let’s all keep our fingers crossed that Hurricane Milton decides to take it easy on the Sunshine State. Stay safe, y’all!