Photographs taken by Michael Freas for the Asheville nonprofit ArtsvilleUSA have been chosen by the Chief Scientist of the National Weather Service (NWS) for presentation at the upcoming Esri User Conference, a leading gathering in environmental science and geospatial technology. Freas's Hurricane Helene images will appear in the Plenary Session to show the real effects of severe weather and highlight how modern technology can boost public safety.

The choice highlights the important part local artists play in recording history and aiding responses to natural disasters, and it holds special meaning for Freas, whose uncle helped research and draft the Clean Air Act.

In the days after Helene, one of the deadliest inland hurricanes on record, NOAA and National Weather Service photographers could not reach Western North Carolina. Ruined roads, collapsed infrastructure, and the near-complete loss of cell and internet service made coordination impossible.

Freas, based in Asheville, was already on site. Using skills developed during his years facing hurricanes in Florida, he captured the rising French Broad River, a man holding onto an overturned shipping container while waiting for rescue, veterans recovering items from flooded homes on Tunnel Road, and artists facing the damage to their work in Asheville's River Arts District, where an estimated 80-90 percent of more than 300 studios and galleries were hit. His camera recorded both the extent of the destruction and the strong spirit of human endurance.

"These photos are more than pictures," said Freas. "Each one reveals something true: what our community faced and the raw force of nature."

Chief Scientist Monica Youngman, of NOAA's Asheville office, noted of the selection, "Freas's work shows both the size and the human side of the disaster in a way numbers alone cannot." Her plenary talk will use Freas's images to stress how people often fail to grasp the real effects of extreme weather until it strikes and how the NWS is using new technologies to close that gap and protect lives in future events.

"ArtsvilleUSA works to boost the voices of Western North Carolina artists, and this effort shows why our mission counts," said ArtsvilleUSA Executive Director Elise Wilson. "Michael's photographs will influence the scientists and leaders who guide responses to major weather events for years ahead. That is the strength of art."

Freas's images were first shown in the exhibition Hurricane Helene: From the Beginning, which opened in December 2024 at the Ferguson Family YMCA in Candler, NC. It was the first art retrospective focused on Hurricane Helene photography. The full exhibition can be viewed virtually on ArtsvilleUSA.com. Michael's own account of documenting the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and the challenges of recovery is shared in his guest spot on the ArtsvilleUSA podcast.

Register for digital access to the Esri User Conference to view the plenary presentation. Download exhibition photos and the full press release.

About ArtsvilleUSA

ArtsvilleUSA is an Asheville-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting the arts community of Western North Carolina. Through exhibitions, podcasts, and storytelling, ArtsvilleUSA amplifies the voices of local artists and arts organizations, celebrating both traditional crafts and contemporary makers from Asheville galleries to rural studios and mountain communities. ArtsvilleUSA is a subsidiary of Arterial, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit media platform committed to amplifying art worldwide. Learn more at ArtsvilleUSA.com or sign up for our newsletter.

About Michael Freas

Michael Freas is an Asheville-based photojournalist recognized for his ability to capture raw emotion and authentic human stories. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Popsugar, The Huffington Post, and more. Learn more at freasframes.com.

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SOURCE ArtsvilleUSA