Hurricane Helene Made Landfall Last Thursday (September 26), Leaving Destruction & Devastation In Its Wake
A beloved South Carolina chapel, known to locals as “Pretty Place,” was damaged by Hurricane Helene, but its Cross still stands.
Hurricane Helene landed on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm on Thursday (September 26). The storm traveled hundreds of miles through the Southeastern U.S.
According to an October 2 report from ABC 11, at least 166 people were killed by Helene.
Helene is now the second-deadliest U.S. hurricane of the last 20 years, killing at least 166 people. In a NewsNation exclusive, @MillsHayesTV hopped in a helicopter with a relief group delivering supplies to victims in North Carolina.
More: https://t.co/htSyYNsllD pic.twitter.com/79zo3Gki2i
— NewsNation (@NewsNation) October 2, 2024
Storm damage is particularly bad in the Carolinas, where severe flooding has left residents trapped in their homes without electricity, food, or other necessary supplies. Country singer Luke Combs, a North Carolina native, has vowed to do something to help his home state.
Country star Morgan Wallen, who’s from East Tennessee, donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross to help with relief efforts.
Cross Still Stands In “Pretty Place” Chapel Damaged By Hurricane Helene
Amid all the devastation caused by Helene, a symbol of hope still stands at the “Pretty Place” Chapel in South Carolina.
The Fred W. Symmes Chapel is an open-air chapel built in 1941 by its namesake, Fred Symmes. The chapel is located at an elevation of 3,200 feet on Stone Mountain.
Anyone who visits the chapel will understand why it earned the nickname “Pretty Place,” as it overlooks the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains.
Sadly, Hurricane Helene significantly damaged the chapel. However, the chapel’s wooden Cross remains standing.
“We were awe-struck to find that, despite the horrible damage done to the chapel, the wooden Cross still stands as a symbol of hope,” said Pretty Place staff on Facebook.
They added:
“We are committed to repairing Pretty Place Chapel as quickly as possible, but this level of damage will take time, donations, volunteers, support, and prayers.”
Pretty Place’s staff filmed a walkthrough to showcase the damage. WYFF News 4 also filmed an aerial view of the destruction. You can watch both videos below.
If you’d like to help Pretty Place rebuild, you can make a donation on the website for YMCA Camp Greenville, where the chapel is located.
To learn more about how to help victims of Hurricane Helene, this article contains a list of organizations helping those affected.