in US History 1,611 Words

The Wreck of the Packet Home off the Outer Banks in 1837 & a Hurricane Helene Update

With seven weeks remaining in the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, today I’m writing about a hurricane in 1837.

An update about the status of Hurricane Helene cleanup in western North Carolina is also included in today’s post, since I live in that state.

The October 8, 1837 Hurricane in North Carolina

While planning my trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina last May, I read about some of the shipwrecks that justify the Outer Banks’ moniker, The Graveyard of the Atlantic. In the process, I learned about one of the great hurricanes of the 19th century.

One of the ships that met a watery grave off the Outer Banks was a side-wheeled steam packet named Home.

The ship, on her third voyage from New York City to Charleston, South Carolina, was fast but no match for a hurricane. In fact, it was designed for river sailing and never should have been in the Atlantic Ocean – much less in the vicinity of where the warm waters of the Gulf Stream and the cold waters of the Labrador Stream collide off the Outer Banks.

She would have been an elegant river vessel but was sorely lacking in design features needed for sailing the Atlantic.

Hurricanes were not usually named in 1837 like they are today, but the one that took out the Home was called “Racer’s Storm.” It became known as “Racer’s Storm” because it damaged the HMS Racer in the Caribbean.

“Racer’s Storm” or “Racer’s Hurricane” formed in the Caribbean Sea around September 25, 1837, striking Jamaica and Cuba before entering the Gulf of Mexico. It dumped torrential rain along the northeastern coast of Mexico. Next, the coast of the then Republic of Texas was left in shambles. Buildings all along the Gulf of Mexico coast were ravaged. It traveled across southern Georgia and emerged on that state’s Atlantic coast.

I have read that heavy rains and winds destroyed sugar and cotton crops throughout the southeastern states and high winds were reported as far inland as eastern Tennessee.

Reports indicate that there were three lifeboats and only two life preservers onboard the Home. It sprang a leak on the night of October 8. By morning, virtually all passengers were ordered to help the crew bail water. Captain Carleton White tried in vain to get the vessel to slightly more safety on the Sound side of the barrier island, but the 220-foot ship was overwhelmed and torn to pieces.

Ninety people perished in the shipwreck and 30 survived. Among the survivors was Captain White.

Captain White was one of eight or ten people who clung to the vessel’s forecastle and made it safely to shore on that piece of the packet.

“Racer’s Storm” lasted so long (at least 15 days) and wreaked havoc over such a wide area that it became the benchmark for hurricanes in the 1800s.

According to Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks: An Illustrated Guide, by Kevin P. Duffus, “As a result of the Home disaster, Congress passed legislation which required an equal number of life preservers for each person on board a U.S. flag vessel.”

Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks: An Illustrated Guide, by Kevin P. Duffus

Another source of information about this event is https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hurricane_blog/180th-anniversary-of-racers-hurricane/.

Hurricane Helene Cleanup Update on Western North Carolina

Ways to Support Children and An Independent Bookstore in Brevard, NC as it tries to help children affected by the hurricane: Highland Books in Brevard, North Carolina has reopened. This independent bookstore depends on the fall tourist season and holiday shopping, but this year there will be no autumn tourists due to all the flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Helene in Transylvania County. (No, I’m not making that up. That’s the name of the county.)

Leslie Logemann, the owner hopes to have enough business not to have to let any of her staff go. Highland Books was kind enough to sell my vintage postcard book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina when it was published in 2015, so there’s a special place in my heart for the shop. I follow Highland Books on Instagram and saw this the other day: 

“HALLOWEEN BOOK DRIVE  If you are able, we hope you’ll consider helping us make Halloween a little brighter for a local child who has been impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Visit our website (or stop by the store), choose any Halloween (or other) book to donate, and we’ll give you 20% OFF. Use code HALLOWEEN & mention it’s for donation.

THANK YOU for considering!
Offer valid through 10/25/24.”

If this particular event pulls at your heartstrings, here’s the website through which you can place an online order: https://www.highlandbooksonline.com/.

Also, through October 31, any order of $25 or more ships FREE, in case you want to do some early Christmas shopping or just want to support an independent bookstore in western North Carolina!

Additional Updates on the ground…

Current weather conditions: Wind Advisory issued from 2:00 this morning until noon today for Avery, Buncombe, Burke Mountains, McDowell Mountains, Mitchell, Rutherford Mountains, and Yancey counties.

Although some politicians and “news” organizations have reported to the contrary… as of last Wednesday, October 8, FEMA had spent $60 million in NC resulting from Hurricane Helene. FEMA had helped 126,000 people in the state and provided temporary housing for 2,500 people. FEMA, the NC National Guard, and the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army are still on the ground and in the air aiding western North Carolina.

Electricity: With the help of 21,000 storm restoration personnel from across the US and Canada, as of Friday, Duke Energy had restored power to more than 2.6 million homes and businesses in NC and SC. However, much infrastructure restoration work remains to be done in the mountains. You can visit at https://www.duke-energy.com/info/carolinas-restoration for updates. With temperatures dipping below freezing this week, the situation is becoming more dire.

Water system in Asheville: As of 1 a.m. last Thursday, the North Fork’s 36-inch bypass line to the water distribution system was connected. Full service restoration is still weeks away. The EPA and engineering firms are helping Water Resources work toward clearing up the highly murky water in North Fork’s reservoir, according to the Asheville Fire Department Facebook page.

A mobile post office has been set up in Marshall, NC because the post office there was destroyed by the flood.

Mountain Mule Packer Ranch: The mules and their handlers returned home in the piedmont of NC for the weekend for some much-needed rest, but they will return to the mountains to continue their volunteer service of taking supplies into areas still inaccessible by motor vehicle.

Public School Systems: I checked on 10 school systems in western NC yesterday. Two reopened on October 8, several are reopening sometime this week; however, the systems in a few counties are still in dire straits. Just to give you an idea about the recovery situation 19 days after Hurricane Helene hit western NC…

All students have been accounted for in Avery County. Once water and electricity have been completely restored, authorities will announce reopening. With so many roads and bridges washed away, school bus service will be a challenge for a long time.

Ashe County Schools remain closed at least through this week. Updates will be made as possible. Bus routes are being planned in coordination with the NC Department of Transportation.

Although 44 of the 45 schools in Buncombe County now have power, on 13 schools have water.

Schools in Watauga County are still closed this week. Weekly updates will be issued as progress is made.

Colleges and universities:

Appalachian State University in Boone: The campus reopened for students to return as of 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Classes will resume in all but Rankin Hall on October 16.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College: Closed until at least October 28.

Blue Ridge Community College: Reopening today.

Lees-McRae College: Classes will be conducted online through November 4.

Mars Hill University: Classes resume today.

Montreat College: Online classes begin today. Return to campus tentatively set for October 21.

The University of North Carolina at Asheville – Instruction and coursework will resume online on October 28 and will remain online for the remainder of fall semester.

Warren Wilson College: “Class will resume October 21 online. Our plan is to be in-person starting on October 28, if water service is restored. The City of Asheville Water Resources has announced that progress is being made. Therefore, we are optimistic but cautious.”

The Orchard at Altapass: “Due to ongoing road conditions, lack of water, and power in many areas, and the fact that Helene was hungry for all of our apples, we will remain closed to the public for the remainder of the season.”

IV Bag Manufacturer: Baxter International makes 60% of the IV bags used in the United States at its plant in Marion, NC. Hospitals are beginning to ration IV bags because that manufacturing plant is still closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene.

Fundraising Concert

North Carolina natives Eric Church and Luke Coombs announced an October 26 “Concert for Carolina” at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte to raise funds for various organizations in western NC, including Manna Food Bank in Asheville. I mentioned it in my blog last Monday, What I Read Last Month & a Hurricane Helene Update. With headliners including James Taylor, Keith Urban, and Sheryl Crow, the concert is, of course, sold out, but check the website (https://www.concertforcarolina.com/) for future announcements about an auction and a raffle.

Until my next blog post

I hope you have a good book to read, a roof over your head, clean water to drink, and electricity.

Remember the people of Ukraine.

Janet

32 thoughts on “The Wreck of the Packet Home off the Outer Banks in 1837 & a Hurricane Helene Update”

  1. Dear Janet,
    Dear Janet,
    Thank you for sharing such a detailed and insightful post about the 1837 hurricane and its significant impact on North Carolina’s history. Your recounting of the tragic loss of the Home and the resulting maritime safety reforms was both enlightening and moving. It’s fascinating to see how events from the past have shaped present-day regulations that continue to protect lives.

    Your updates on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina are both heartfelt and informative. It’s inspiring to see how communities and local businesses like Highland Books are coming together to support those affected, especially the children. Your emphasis on actionable ways to help makes it easier for readers to contribute to the recovery efforts.

    I appreciate your dedication to keeping us informed about the ongoing challenges and the resilience of the people in your area. Your closing words are a poignant reminder of the basic necessities we often take for granted. Thank you for highlighting the importance of community support and for encouraging us to remember others in need.

    Wishing you and your community continued strength and a swift recovery.

    Warm regards,
    Mike

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Thanks for the information about Western NC AND for including information about the various state, federal, and volunteer agencies that are showing up to support the people affected by the hurricane. It is bad enough for people to make up lies about that and it is even worse for people to believe the lies rather than the Republican governors of the affected states. If they believe the lies to begin with, they are even less likely to believe anything the Democrats might say on the relief efforts. Funny how the Democrats, who are accused of mismanaging almost everything, are capable of controlling a Cat 3-4-5 hurricane and direct into only Red States.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Thank you for your detailed comments, Mike. With so much misinformation out there on certain news networks, I feel compelled to try to get out some of the down-to-earth details. Fortunately, I’m about 100 miles east of the damage, but since my college days at Appalachian State University my heart has been in the mountains. I hope my update next Monday can be shorter and more positive; however, one of the TV stations in Charlotte reported this morning that FEMA contractors had to stop inspecting houses in Rutherford County (the county Chimney Rock and Lake Lure are in) because armed people were out looking for FEMA representatives. Just when you think things can’t get any worse….

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Absolutely! These people will believe anything… except the truth! I didn’t think the situation could get any worse with all the lies being spread, but one of the TV stations in Charlotte reported this morning that a company contracted by FEMA to inspect houses in Rutherford County, NC had to pull out because armed people were looking for FEMA personnel! When will people learn that words matter and there are just enough disturbed people out there that are going to act on the lies they hear? Thank you for your comment.

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Thanks for sharing that information. Makes me nervous for what happens after Nov 5, no matter who wins. I’m afraid that even if he wins and the win isn’t as big as he expects, there will still be trouble, nevermind the Revenge Tour coming to a government near you.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. This is quite an interesting and informative post. Your description is impeccable and truly guides the reader towards the knowledge of the event. It is sad to read the update, which is extremely thorough and complete, but it makes one conscious of the tremendous damage suffered by the people there. Wishing you the best.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Just read your comment that armed people are out looking for FEMA personnel – as if things weren’t bad enough! I’m afraid Trump and his pals don’t care that they are provoking violence. I’m pretty sure that’s what they want. It’s a form of terrorism. His impact is so pervasive there are even people over here who believe that FEMA is doing nothing and that Biden has given all the disaster money to Lebanon. There seems to be no way of getting some people to recognise the difference between truth and lies.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. The lies Trump is spreading day in and day out … I have no words for how worried I am about this election. If the polls are correct, half the country have bought in to all his lies and apparently think violence is just fine. I never thought I’d see the US in this situation. I’m 71 years old, and I can’t believe what I’m seeing. If he’s elected, he’ll come after writers like me, but this election is too important for me to keep quiet.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Thank you, Francis, for the glowing compliments about my writing. The update is sad, but I hope it will be more positive next Monday. Getting most students back in school will help give the people a sense of normalcy. The North Carolina Department of Transportation reported this afternoon that they have gotten more than 600 roads reopened, but there are still many road closures.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Although first reported to have been Avery County, later reports indicate that it was Ashe County where FEMA operations were suspended temporarlly out of an abundance of caution due to threats being made against FEMA. The result was the same… all due to the lies being spread about FEMA by Trump. When will the American public wake up and decide his scare tactics have gone too far? Maybe when they experience a natural disaster?

    Liked by 1 person

  24. This was such an informative post Janet. It’s nice to hear from someone local about how many people are helping, despite what lies are being spread by Trump! Even after he loses, it won’t be over, just like before but in the end our country can get back to normal. Excellent post!

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Thank you so much, Diane. I knew I liked you and now I know why! LOL! Yes, Trump’s lies have been maddening to hear. I can’t imagine how it makes the FEMA employees and their contractors feel. The EMS director in Yancey County was interviewed on 60 Minutes Sunday night and he talked about how all the lies being spread have made recovery more difficult than it should have been. He mentioned the one about the Democrats being able to engineer the hurricane to hit the region. He said once someone believes such nonsense you can change their minds. How did such a high percentage of the American public get so stupid, Diane? The whole political situation baffles me. I feel as if they are sheep being led to the slaughter… just like in Germany in the 1930s. Too bad they’re taking all of us with them! Too many people think it can’t happen in America. Back to the hurricane damage… reading that “tens of thousands” of trees now lie across the Blue Ridge Parkway was like a punch in the gut for me. The Blue Ridge Parkway is my favorite place to be. It’s a beautiful drive and we have FDR and the Civilian Conservation Corps to thank for it. My sister and I have commented every time we’ve driven it that we are grateful it was built when it was because it would never be built today. I now seriously wonder if all of it can ever be reconstructed with more than 30 parts of it washed out — there’s nothing under there to build a road on now. I don’t think it can possibly all be put back together. The latest I heard about Interstate 40 near the Tennessee line is that it might be 2026 before it is fully restored with all lanes open. I think they’re working to get one lane in each direction open first. It’s just about the only route for commercial vehicles to cross the Appalachians in NC. The current detours via Virginia and South Carolina/Georgia are extremely long. I can’t imagine the frustration felt by the long-distance truckers. Enough of that for now… didn’t mean to talk your ears off! I appreciate your interest and I very much appreciate knowing that people in other parts of the country aren’t all falling for the lies being spread!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. People will figure out a way to get things back to as normal as they can. I’m sure seeing so much devastation makes it hard to believe. It may take years but perseverance is amazing. I pray that the Blue Ridge Parkway can be restored if only partially. I will still keep everyone there in my prays Janet. I feel the same way as you do about Trump. We have to be the only country that people want to vote a criminal in as our president! I will stop there!

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Yes, and it happened quicker than I expected. 20 miles down, 250 more to go. I like to vote on Election Day, so I’m waiting. Maybe it’s because I live in a swing state, but I’m really worried.

    Like

  31. Thank you, Laleh. I enjoy doing the research and the writing, so it’s a good match for me. And as for that 1837 hurricane… can you imagine storms like that before we had meteorologists forecasting the weather? It would have been like it just came out of nowhere without any warning! We take so much for granted today! Stay warm and well as cooler weather sets in. You’re the best!

    Liked by 1 person

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