Help the Judd Family Rebuild After Tropical Storm Helene

Please Help the Judd Family

Lost everything in Tropical Storm Helene

Greetings. Like too many people, the Judd Family has been significantly hurt by Tropical Helene. For those who don’t know, Avi, Dov, and Sam moved to Mountain Light Retreat Center in rural Barnardsville, NC, six months ago, chasing a dream of running a bed and breakfast. They found many successes, hosting and cooking for many travelers as the family settled in at Mountain Light.

During the storm, they watched the stream turn into a river and a river into violent earth, rock, and water rolling down the mountain toward Barnardsville. The bridge to the property, even on steel pylons, washed away. A landslide tumbled on the other side of them — a short walk from the main house. Flood has destroyed the property but thankfully the main house was spared. They (along with their friends Elaine, Zella, four beloved dogs, and a cat), were located by wildlife agents on Saturday. They were advised to shelter because of their access to spring water and enough food. They learned from the agents that another landslide wiped out the forest road to Mountain Light. Their cars and all the items they can’t carry out on their backs are at a loss.

As the water receded, Dov, Avi, and Elaine hiked out and saw the devastation in the valley and town below. They all feel lucky to be alive. Because of the clearance on the Lower Branch Trail, they can hike in/out and are currently sheltering at Mountain Light. Aware now that Asheville and the region are suffering from a lack of access to clean water, gas, power, cell service, and food, and the fact that they will need to hike out together (their father, Sam is 70 and they need to be strategic about leaving at the safest moment), they feel this is the best option.

Dillingham Road in Barnardsville has been destroyed — yesterday Dov, Avi, and Elaine watched the amazing community members rebuilding safe access for those who will leave or access family by foot, bike, and ATV. There is a community coming together here and all that entails. Avi is a volunteer firefighter and was happy to see and help other firefighters he knew as they hiked what once was Dillingham Road yesterday. There is cell service now from the Big Ivy Community Center.

In the aftermath, the Judds are asking you, their friends, and family, for much-needed financial help. Avi and Dov had invested in Mountain Light infrastructure with the support of their father Sam to host their dream of being together and cooking for visitors. Their entire household will have to be abandoned.

They are asking all their friends and family for money to help them to begin their lives again after this disaster. Any amount you can give would be welcome as they try to assess where and how to rebuild their lives. It is too early to tell where and how that may be.

Thank you from all of us.

Love, the Judds

P.S. Please message here as cell service is still out. Your messages will go to Travis Robinson, the admin of this page. There will continue to be updates posted from here on out. Hope to have another update by Wednesday afternoon!

Update. Hi this is Avi thanks so much for the support this has truly made this horrible loss and devastating event just a little bit easier. Asking people for help money is the last thing we ever wanted to do and there is so much need right now. So thanks for helping us. We made it to MD on wed and will be getting another car since we lost all of ours in this and then we will go back down and help our friends and family down there who are not as fortunate as we are and lost so much more than all

of there home and all there possesions. We may have lost everything but we didn’t lose each other when right now so many of our friends have dead and still missing loved ones.