BEGIN WITH WXII 12. KRIS PETERSON, WHO MADE IT OUT TO HARD HIT MITCHELL AND MCDOWELL COUNTIES. I THINK OF THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA AS A PLACE OF PEACE, COMFORT AND REFUGE. AND RIGHT NOW, THIS SCENIC OVERLOOK JUST OUTSIDE OF SPRUCE PINE IS BEING USED AS A PLACE OF REFUGE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN NEED. WHAT ARE YOU DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY 226 A? YOU CAN SEE THE DAMAGE AMIDST A BACKDROP. SO BEAUTIFUL. THIS ROAD LEADING TO LITTLE SWITZERLAND IS CLOSED. YOU CAN SEE WHERE LANDSLIDES WASHED AWAY PORTIONS OF THE MOUNTAIN EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU’LL FIND A TREE ON A HOME. WELL, IT’S ALL BLOCKED OFF THE ROADS DESTROYED. WE’VE GOT 3 OR 4 LANDSLIDES DOWN THERE. TREES DOWN, THE MOUNTAINS GONE. FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THIS AREA ARE COMING HERE TO THIS VISITOR CENTER JUST OFF THE BLUE RIGE PARKWAY. IT’S THE ONLY PLACE …