Watch us on PBS news. The video is below in our full story.

One year ago, Hurricane Helene changed everything

We stood and watched helplessly as the Cane River rose higher than we’d ever seen. Helene tore through our community, washing away homes, roads, bridges, and, heartbreakingly, many lives. Our bridge, which was the access to our home for 44 years, was swept away. Home is where the heart is, and our bridge was our way home.

My wife and I are elderly, and access to our home is essential. I’ve had several heart surgeries, and Evelyn’s a liver transplant recipient, and right now, ambulances can’t reach us.

As you can see, we are walking two narrow beams to get home. This will be too dangerous in the winter. We are working on multiple other temporary solutions that will be safe to get back home. But funding aid is very much needed for us to build a safe, and accessible bridge.

We ask you to help with your hearts if you can.

One day, we hope you will visit us.

Sincerely,

Ted and Evelyn Baker

Please watch this 7 minute PBS State Lines Special video about us.

This is what was left of our bridge after Helene

And we were left with no way across our 100 ft wide river

Just a few of the huge trees that destroyed our bridge

I made a temporary way across with two narrow metal beams

Happy days before Helene at our beloved Bakers Acres

Thank you for your kindness