Asheville Residents Unite for Healing at Candlelight Vigil Following Tropical Storm Helene

Asheville Comes Together in Support at Candlelight Vigil

On a brisk evening in Asheville, hundreds of residents gathered at Pack Square Park on October 22, creating a gentle glow in the heart of the city with flickering candles. The somber occasion was a candlelight vigil dedicated to those impacted by the devastating toll that Tropical Storm Helene inflicted on the region. Emotions ran high as community members came together to share their grief and support one another.

A Moment to Reflect

The event kicked off with an opening invocation by Rev. Jim Abbot, who set a reflective tone for the evening. Afterward, Asheville City Council member Maggie Ullman stepped up to introduce a special performance by singer-songwriter Adam Pope. Ullman had discovered Pope’s song, “Five Hundred Year Flood,” on TikTok, and she was eager to share it with the audience. Surprising many, Pope humorously downplayed the impact of his newfound social media fame by confessing, “Until two weeks ago, I didn’t know how to work TikTok or even spell it,” prompting a ripple of laughter from the crowd.

The Power of Music

Pope, with his captivating storytelling and rich baritone voice, launched into his song with a cantering guitar strum. The lyrics painted a vivid picture of despair and resilience: “They called it a five hundred year flood/Darkness descended on the Blue Ridge and swallowed it up.” His imagery was both familiar and haunting, resonating deeply with listeners. One powerful line, “I thought the devil dealt with only fire and flame/’Til I saw Satan surfing in from hell on a hurricane,” evoked both laughter and reflection.

As the song concluded, the audience erupted into loud applause, appreciative of the emotional weight Pope brought to the performance. “When I finished the song and walked offstage, I put my guitar in the case and I just broke down crying because there was so much emotion,” Pope shared a few days later. It was a raw moment for the musician, who had never experienced such overwhelming feelings after a performance before.

Rooted in History

Pope’s connections to Western North Carolina run deep. Growing up near Winston-Salem, he found solace in the storytelling of country music legends like Alan Jackson, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley. After begging his father for a guitar, he learned to play from his 80-year-old great-grandfather, Bud McCurdy, a coal miner who relocated his family to North Carolina in the 1960s. “I learned to play from [my great-grandfather] who played and sang like Jimmie Rodgers,” Pope reminisced. It’s worth noting that Rodgers, one of the first superstars in country music, got his start on Asheville’s radio station WWNC in 1927, and a historical marker honoring him can be found downtown.

A Personal Connection to Disaster

When Tropical Storm Helene hit, Pope was on the road in Montana, trying to finish several projects. However, he found himself distracted by the news coming from home. “I was waiting to hear back from family members and friends, and I hadn’t heard back from quite a few of them. So, it was weighing on me,” he explained. This emotional turmoil eventually inspired him to pick up his guitar, leading to the creation of “Five Hundred Year Flood.”

“I thought, ‘What would Johnny Cash say?’ and I saw this headline on my laptop. It said, ‘Five Hundred Year Flood.’ So I just took that and I sang,” he recounted, revealing that he had no real intention of doing much with the song at the time. It was a moment of personal reflection amidst his grief for the community.

Community Spirit Shines

The vigil at Pack Square Park was not just a gathering but a manifestation of the strength and resilience of the Asheville community. As people came together to mourn, they also celebrated their shared history and the unbreakable ties that connect them through music, hardship, and hope. The evening not only honored those affected by Helene but also reinforced the idea that no matter how turbulent the storm, the community’s spirit remains unyielding.