GOT DAMN. That hit close
I also live in Asheville! I was incredibly lucky to be way up north when Helene hit---meaning I didn't have to actively deal with any of the tragedy firsthand, but the entirety of my family and a large chunk of my friends did. Waiting to get correspondence from them was awful. Sitting there, completely untouched by the storm, and waiting to hear if anyone I cared about made it out okay. I hated being unable to be out there helping, and it really sucked to be unsure of whether or not I had lost any of my loved ones.
Seeing the photo of the 40 swallowed by the river, and the shots of Swannanoa up on Facebook made things way worse, and I can't have imagined how horrific it was for the folks braving the storm in person.
Thank you for making this game! It really got me while playing, and it was really cathartic to read. Excellent descriptions, and very visceral storytelling. Great job!