Eighteen months after Hurricane Helene made landfall and carved a catastrophic path through the Southeast and into the Appalachian mountains, recovery efforts continue in communities that experienced some of the worst inland flooding in modern American history.
Progress and Persistence
All Hands and Hearts has maintained a continuous volunteer presence in western North Carolina since the hurricane, focusing on home repair and rebuilding projects for families who cannot afford contractors.
Habitat for Humanity is constructing new affordable housing units in flood-damaged communities, incorporating elevated designs and flood-resistant materials.
Hearts With Hands is providing case management and direct financial assistance to families navigating the complex recovery process, helping them access available resources and rebuild their lives.
Remaining Challenges
Infrastructure repair in mountain communities has proven particularly complex and expensive. Roads, bridges, and water systems damaged by the historic flooding continue to affect daily life for thousands of residents. Many small businesses have not reopened, altering the economic fabric of tight-knit mountain communities.
A Community Transformed
The disaster has prompted difficult conversations about rebuilding in flood-prone mountain valleys versus relocating to safer ground — a tension that plays out community by community as residents weigh deep ties to place against the reality of future flood risk.
Visit our Hurricane Helene disaster page for organizations still active in the recovery.