We are reaching out to our music community to support our dear friends Hasee Ciaccio and Abby Huggins who have experienced devastating loss in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Fortunately, Hasee and Abby were not home during this destruction, as they were attending the IBMA conference in Raleigh. Everyone is safe.
Their beloved home in Cove Creek, North Carolina was destroyed by high winds, fallen trees, then a landslide that pushed their house completely off its foundation. It is currently uninhabitable and structurally unsound with rain able to enter the home, and will likely be deemed a total loss. The backyard is now home to around 25ft of new earth piled there by Helene.
At the same time, Hasee and Abby are only beginning to process the grief and colossal financial loss they’re facing. It is still not safe for them to even go back to their home but they expect to have lost most of their belongings as well. This home was their only asset, they still owe on a mortgage, and they have immediate housing support needs.
We are calling on our community to step up and lend support to help our friends through this incredibly challenging time. Please give as generously as you are able. We know that if we all pull together, we can make sure our friends – and newlyweds – get what they need to begin their recovery and to rebuild their lives.
Hasee and Abby are both self employed. Hasee is a bluegrass bassist and vocalist, a member of Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands since 2017, and is Alice Gerrard’s first-pick bassist. She has played with Molly Tuttle, Sister Sadie, AJ Lee, Jake Blount and many others for the last 15 years. Abby has worked in foodways and Appalachian dance in community, non-profit and education settings.
They would like to mention that if they receive more funding than they need, they will donate it to mutual aid groups who would distribute to areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. They would also like to encourage folks to consider donating to High Country Mutual Aid, Tri-Cities Mutual Aid, Appalachian Helene Response Fund or any other local/regional grassroots mutual aid organizing efforts.
A note from them:
“The loss our region is experiencing from Hurricane Helene is heartbreaking beyond words. We know our communities are resilient and will hold each other up through this long process of recovery and healing. To say a little about our home in northwestern NC: The beauty and magic of the natural world across seasons at our home was stunning and serene. Built in 1918, our home was a place where we gathered with our community for music, food and dance. We dreamed of continuing to share this space with folks for a long time. People would comment on the peace the hillside offered and the comfort they experienced on the land. We are grateful to have been a part of the home’s story, and we are also grieving its loss. Even with this devastation on our hands, we have so much to be grateful for, including everyone’s safety during the time of the disaster, and the outpouring of Love and compassion from our widespread community. We appreciate any form of support, whether a hug, a kind word, help with clean up or financial assistance.
With Immense Gratitude,
Hasee, Abby & Country Ham the Dog”