Roger's Story: Losing a Home, Finding Hope

Roger Dotson. Photo by Addison Rudicile

When the water poured through Roger Dotson’s front door, the 74-year-old thought his days of owning a home were over. It was late September, 2024, and rain from Hurricane Helene had settled over the southern Appalachian mountains.

“To tell you the truth, when I seen my home raise in that water, you know what I thought? ‘I won’t ever own another home.’ I couldn’t afford one.” - Roger Dotson

Earlier that evening, Roger fell asleep in his recliner, lulled by the patter of rain against his roof when something — maybe it was a change in the sound or intensity of the rain — woke him up. Chancing a look outside into the field he used to bail hay in as a boy, all he could see was water.

And it was rising.

Find out what happened and how Wine To Water helped Roger rebuild after Helene in "Roger's Story."