Crisis to Connection: 6 Months After Hurricane Helene in WNC

More than six months after Hurricane Helene brought heavy flooding and devastation to Western North Carolina (WNC), local communities continue to move forward with determination as they navigate long-term recovery.

WNC is known for its tight-knit, resilient communities that drive local solutions to pressing challenges. In the days following Helene, people came together against all odds. Neighbors supported neighbors. Artists helped process collective grief through creative expression. Restaurants served hot meals. Businesses distributed essentials like water, shelter, and medical supplies. As long-term recovery continues, this strong spirit persists.

Below, we look at how the region has been impacted and community-led efforts working to support long-term well-being.

Physical and economic toll

The end of March marked six months since Hurricane Helene, when a torrential downpour inundated 17 counties in Western North Carolina (WNC). Catastrophic flooding reached over 30 inches—exceeding levels from the historic “Great Flood” of 1916 by over 1.5 feet.

While many individuals and communities across the region face similar challenges and have shared experiences, recovery also varies by location. For instance, Buncombe County’s recovery immediately centered around the loss of drinkable water for 53 days last year, while parts of Yancey County were still working to bring their power back online four months after the disaster.

Depending on where you are, signs of damage and debris may remain, while in other areas, businesses have reopened and tourists have returned.

The region experienced just under an estimated $60 billion in economic losses, with approximately 126,000 homes damaged. Additionally, many residents faced limited access to their homes and vital resources, with over 8,000 private roads and bridges damaged. Yet, communities have mobilized.

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety launched the Helene Recovery Private Road and Bridge Program to help homeowners. It prioritizes repairs to roads and bridges that serve multiple homes or are the only access point for emergency services.

School disruptions and youth mental health

The damage from the hurricane also extended beyond homes and roads. Schools in Henderson, McDowell, Watauga, and Yancey Counties were significantly impacted, with Micaville Elementary in Yancey County closing permanently. Many schools stepped up to served as community shelters and distribution centers.

Communities came together to support one another and get children back to school as soon as possible. While districts worked hard to relocate students and continue education, there were still significant cancellations and delays. Yancey County students were out of school for over seven weeks due to infrastructure damage. Many school buildings were also repurposed and used for shelter, food, and supply distribution.

Disrupted routines are particularly stressful for children and their caregivers—a reality underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic. “With Helene, those [oral hygiene habits] got disrupted, obviously,” said Dr. Alice Jamison, a pediatric dentist in Asheville. “For a lot of people, their whole routine was disrupted, and with kids specifically, routine is so, so important.”

Natural disasters like Hurricane Helene are also recognized as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and can have lasting effects on mental and emotional health. The Center of Excellence for Integrated Care (COE), a program of FHLI, promotes free, optional mental health well-checks for all North Carolina children aged 0–18. These essential annual check-ins could be particularly important for youth experiencing compounded trauma from events like Helene.

Ongoing mental health support across WNC

As with children, the mental health impacts on adults continue to unfold in the storm’s aftermath. Damage from the hurricane continues to affect social drivers of health, such as decreased income, job loss, and housing instability, all of which can raise stress and mental health challenges like anxiety and depression.

Some researchers estimate that 20–40% of an affected population may experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a disaster like Helene. From sleep disturbances and flashbacks to social isolation and persistent negative thoughts, the ongoing impact can be profound.

In response, organizations like Resources for Resilience, in partnership with Vaya Health, continue to offer listening circles and trauma-informed training for first responders, health workers, and community volunteers. These community-based efforts provide essential space for healing while transitioning through different recovery stages.

Healing through systems of care

Many other community-based organizations in WNC have also responded to continue care delivery throughout the recovery process. The Western Carolina Medical Society (WCMS), a member of the North Carolina Rural Health Association, housed by FHLI, exemplifies this approach. Since September 27, 2024, WCMS has:

Made 375 free referrals.
Provided translation at 2,722 appointments.
Connected residents to free, confidential Healthy Healer therapy.
Distributed medical supplies and enrolled 153 patients in Project Access, serving over 2,500 low-income individuals annually.
Donated tens of thousands for rental assistance, groceries, utilities, and transportation.

This represents just one of countless organizations showing up to meet the need in their communities across the region.

Meanwhile, NCCARE360, a digital health and human services coordination platform administered by FHLI, has helped connect residents to local resources like debris removal. As a tool, NCCARE360 empowers community-based organizations and local providers in each area to support individuals in comprehensive, tailored ways that address their specific needs.

Brandon Wilson of Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM), a community-based organization that uses NCCARE360, notes the importance of the platform. “It’s really important for some of our rural pockets to have this network because we have so many resource deserts, lack of transportation, lack of funding for nonprofits, lack of affordable housing,” he said.

Dr. Betsey Cuervo Tilson, former state health director and chief medical officer for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, emphasized: “No matter what the new shiny public health threat is, we are going to have to address people’s core needs in order to respond to that.”

Pandemics and natural disasters can worsen existing health challenges. NCCARE360 can help build stronger, more resilient communities by supporting local organizations and providers in meeting people’s basic needs.

Moving forward as recovery continues

In December 2024, WNC Nonprofit Pathways hosted a Nonprofit Leadership Forum titled “The Power of Nonprofits: Reimagining and Rebuilding a Resilient WNC.” Keynote speaker Angela Blanchard, Chief Resilience and Recovery Officer for the City of Houston, urged communities to embrace gratitude and draw on imagination to create a better future where no one is left behind.

She offered this wisdom: “Every grievance, every complaint, holds within it a vision of a hoped-for future. Listen to that vision.” Her message resonated deeply and continues to echo in the ongoing work of local providers and community-based organizations in WNC.

As severe weather events grow more frequent, North Carolina must act to create a more resilient tomorrow. FHLI remains committed to building a future that prioritizes whole-person, whole-community, and whole-state health for all North Carolinians—regardless of who they are or where they live.