NC mom still trying to make direct contact with son in storm-ravaged Spruce Pine

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)– A Raleigh woman is still waiting for the ability to make direct contact with her son in Spruce Pine after Hurricane Helene devastated the area.

"It's... it's heartbreaking," said Jeri Gray, who grew up in Spruce Pine.

"I know that once the cameras leave, once everything settles down on social media, those folks are still going to have to recover," she added.

Some of those folks include members of her family. Because of continued difficulties with cellphone service in the area, she hasn't had direct contact with any of them, including her son.

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"I have heard about him. At first I heard he was fine, then I heard he had a fall and has broken ribs," she said, adding she's thankful to know that he's still alive.

Like many mountain communities, Gray says Spruce Pine is heavily dependent on tourism.

"A lot of what these people depend on is not going to come back for a long time. It's going to be months, if not years."

So, she's blown away by the continued outpouring of love and support for the western part of the state.

"It's incredible, it really is. They're overflowing with relief supplies there."

Despite the devastation from Helene, she has no doubt that her hometown will be able to recover, "It's a beautiful place, it will be again. Just how long it's going to take."

In an update on social media on Sunday, the Town of Spruce Pine says Verizon has been able to get a couple of towers back up in the area, with cell service slowly returning.