Fort Collins woman worries for family amid Hurricane Helene devastation

FORT COLLINS, Colo. ( KDVR ) — The family of a Fort Collins woman is trapped in Asheville, North Carolina, after Hurricane Helene.

The storm killed more than 200 people as it tore through the southeast United States, and cleanup and recovery efforts will be underway for a while.

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Jazz Jones continues to worry about her loved ones. Her mother Jody Read said there were no local, county or state officials that warned anyone to be prepared to evacuate. Jazz said having family far away can be challenging.

"It's really hard because there is only so much I can do from a distance," she said.

Especially in a natural disaster.

"I hear daily my siblings telling each other hey this is where we can get water. This is where we can find food," said Jazz. "Every day is a mission to find water, food and gas."

Jazz's mom and sibling are dealing with the flood damage while trapped in Asheville. All without power, clean water and sparse cell reception.

"We don't have a choice. I was given a FEMA hotel voucher to relocate because I had damage but there's no rooms for anyone within a 200-mile radius," said Jody. "I have friends that deliver creek water to flush my toilet. We can drive down the road and see dead horses on the side of the road, dead cows, fish that covers farmer's fields this is way beyond what you see on TV."

Jazz and other family members were planning to make the trip to Asheville on Oct. 11 for her brother's wedding.

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Jody said, "... but the 469 mile Blue Ridge Parkway is closed, all of it, because there's many, many parts missing. That's a national park Eisenhower built. Nothing has ever destroyed it like that before."

Although this family, like others, has lost so much, they say they are happy to be alive. However, they know they have a long road ahead of them.

'People out here are so traumatized. This is going to take I don't know so many years to ever deal with this," said Jody. "This is a massive event that's changed the lives of lots of people."

The family has set up a GoFundMe to help rebuild. They hope more people begin to contribute to any fundraisers that will help the community get back on its feet.