As most of you readers know, I am an east bay newborn baby photographer, but you may not know that we just moved from Asheville, N.C. What is happening in Asheville right now is so heartbreaking and devastating. So many people have lost their homes, family members. People are without water and won’t have water for a month or so. There won’t be school. People have been trapped because of fallen trees and mudslides. So many don’t have any connection to the outside world to even know what’s happening because there isn’t any power or cell service. Asheville is my home, where I grew up and where my family is. Being so far away and not being able to help is so hard. I have finally been able to speak to my family today because one of my cousins has cell service at least for today. The communities there have really come together to help each other out and the local government has been amazing with communication and getting resources out to everyone. I’m praying hard for everyone who has been affected by this awful tragedy.
I took these photos of our kids in Chimney Rock in 2020. This river completely took out all of the buildings and homes on the main street and beyond. So many people lost everything.
So many places that we knew are gone. The gym where our kids did gymnastics, the venue where we saw live music, the salon that we went to, the river arts district where we went fairly often,….my heart breaks for the businesses that have lost everything.
I am so thankful that my family is alive. We are going back for Thanksgiving and it’s going to be so sad to see so many places just gone. I love you, Asheville and no matter where I live, you will always be my home. ~Brandy Lewis (East Bay Newborn Baby Photographer)