Asheville Author Releases Visual Book on Helene Floods
The 40-page wordless novel by Jerald Pope offers children a way to process the impact of the 2024 storm.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Environmental
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In 2026, Asheville author Jerald Pope published Ark, a 40-page wordless picture book illustrating the experiences of woodland animals during a flood. The work serves as a retrospective response to the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024.
Why it matters
The book functions as a therapeutic tool for children in Western North Carolina navigating the emotional aftermath of the 2024 flooding. It provides a visual narrative for processing complex environmental trauma without the reliance on traditional language barriers.
The production process spanned 6 months of active illustration work using ink on textured watercolor paper. The 40-page narrative relies on shifts in color and composition to communicate the progression of the storm.
The players
Jerald Pope
An Asheville-based author and former theater professional who has produced 15 books including three wordless novels.
The details
Jerald Pope, who spent 30 years working in theater, applied techniques from stage design to structure the visual flow of the book. By choosing a wordless format, the author conveys the story in both English and Spanish simultaneously, ensuring accessibility. The illustrations use physical texture and layering to mimic the chaotic environmental changes experienced during the flood events of September 2024.
Timeline
Tropical Storm Helene impacted the region in September 2024.
Jerald Pope published the book Ark in 2026.
The Tech Race
This publication follows a pattern of local creative works emerging as regional responses to the environmental destruction of 2024. It sits alongside other community-driven efforts to synthesize the impact of Tropical Storm Helene through artistic and narrative documentation.
The book is intended as a resource for children in Asheville and throughout Western North Carolina affected by the 2024 storm. Its bilingual, wordless structure makes it suitable for diverse households and families seeking to discuss the events of September 2024.
The takeaway
The publication of Ark highlights the role of narrative arts in regional recovery efforts after major environmental disasters. Readers should watch for library or bookstore local-interest displays in Asheville to access this retrospective account of the 2024 flood events.
Further reading
Explore more regional perspectives in our Environmental section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Asheville Citizen Times.
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