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Hurricane Helene has rearranged the holiday season for many communities, especially Northeast Tennessee and Western North Carolina. This is especially true in Elizabethton, where the Christmas parade has been assigned a different route because of the increased traffic on East Elk Avenue due to the closing of the Broad Street Bridge. The parade will now be held on West G Street.

And, that’s not all, due to increased traffic in downtown caused by the closing of the Broad Street Bridge, the location of the annual lighting of the Fraser fir has been changed from on-site at the Folsom House to the nearby Covered Bridge Park, The tree lighting ceremony will be held Saturday, Nov. 23, at 5:15 p.m.

The location of the events is not the important thing, it’s that in spite of weather events, we can celebrate the holidays by enjoying family, gift giving, the religious services, and other traditions such as the parade and Fraser fir lighting. The holidays this year may be hard on people, who can’t quite manage them because of loss of home and belongings due to Hurricane Helene.

Christmas can feel like a lot of work, whether it be holiday shopping, trimming the tree or hosting guests. And even though there is so much to do and so much to think about, we hope people in our community will think about each other, too, and how to make sure those they care about have happy holidays. That might mean trying to extend ourselves outside our comfort zone to add to Christmas cheer, or it might mean understanding if one of our loved ones needs some time away from all the merry-making.

The support given to those impacted by the flood and destruction has been overwhelming. The giving has been tremendous from home folks as well as people from near and far. This Thanksgiving we have so much to be thankful for. And, yet there is much work to be done in our community. We still have hurting families, families who still have needs, even for a home, a vehicle, all damaged by the floods. But we believe that as a community, those needs will be met.

Thanksgiving will mark exactly two months after Hurricane Helene unleashed its destructive force in Northeast Tennessee and Western North Carolina, leaving a trail of destruction. The storm’s impact was catastrophic. Homes were submerged in historic floodwaters, dozens of lives were tragically lost in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, and entire communities were shattered. Many residents lost everything they had worked for throughout their lives.

Yet, this Thanksgiving and Christmas, we have much to be thankful for, something worth celebrating. We are resilient, grateful people. 

As families prepare to celebrate the holidays this year, the atmosphere is imbued with a complex mix of gratitude and somber reflection, in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation. Communities are coming together not only to share their stories of loss, but to share their blessings and support one another in the aftermath of the storm, as well.

In the face of such adversity, the spirit of community, Thanksgiving and Christmas shine brightly.

This Thanksgiving, we are choosing to reflect on not just what we have, but the strength and solidarity that has emerged in our community, as well. It’s a poignant reminder that, even in the darkest times, hope and support can flourish.

As we reflect on the lessons learned from Hurricane Helene, there is a collective understanding that recovery will take time. The rebuilding process will take time, and the path ahead may be challenging. However, the spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas serves as a beacon of hope. And, that hope means we can still celebrate with parades and tree lightings.