**North Carolina Family Reels from Tragic Loss of 11 Members in Hurricane Helene Aftermath**

As the arduous task of piecing lives back together unfolds for many in the wake of Hurricane Helene, one family in North Carolina faces unimaginable grief. The Craig family is mourning the loss of 11 relatives after a catastrophic mudslide decimated their community in Fairview, known locally as "Craigtown."

With over eight decades spent building their lives in this cherished enclave, the Craigs saw their legacy destroyed in a matter of moments. Hurricane Helene's brutal force, stretching over 500 miles from Florida to the Southern Appalachians, has led to more than 100 confirmed deaths in the state. The mudslides triggered by the storm obliterated several homes in Craigtown, taking the lives of those inside them.

Surviving family members like Jesse and Bryan Craig are now grappling with the profound loss and the altered landscape of their hometown. "My mother and father, my aunt and uncle, my great aunt and uncle - I've lost cousins, second cousins," recounted Jesse Craig. Bryan Craig shared the heartbreak of witnessing the destruction firsthand. "They saw it, witnessed it, and had to watch it all. The sheer force of the water, the mud, the rocks – it’s unimaginable."

Adding to their sorrow is the memory of a family celebration just a week before the tragedy struck; they had gathered for a wedding, now one of their last happy moments together. With homes reduced to rubble, surviving family members cling to photos and objects salvaged from the devastation.

Family friend Steve Runion spoke to the character of the Craig family. "They were larger than life, pillars of the community. They would do anything for you. They really do have servants' hearts. That's the best way I could put it... They were just loving people," he said.

The Craigs continue to face the future with resilience, aiming to rebuild what their relatives had established since the mid-1900s. Plans are in motion to create a memorial from the wood stoves recovered from the wreckage. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support the family's rebuilding efforts, covering funeral expenses, medical costs, and aiding them during this period of grief and unemployment.

Bryan Craig reflects on the path ahead, "This will never be the same; there's no way this can ever be the same, this little area, but we try to move on, to get on with life; I know they'd want us to."