15 stories of hope, resilience and community after Helene’s fury in Western North Carolina
Stories of hope, help and community have emerged in the weeks since Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina.
Hard-hit residents have showed remarkable resilience, such as the couple who adapted their wedding plans amid the chaos; the community that got creative to find water; the small town whose residents are feeding one another; and the woman whose only escape route was over the mountain.
Public figures such as YouTuber Cleetus McFarland, who rescued victims via helicopter, and organizations like World Central Kitchen, led by Chef José Andrés, have played pivotal roles in relief efforts. Pilots delivered supplies one trip at a time.
Residents who experienced no damage left their homes to lessen the burden on rescue workers.
As recovery progresses, the communities continue to rely on faith, local volunteers and external support to rebuild and restore normalcy.
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
NO. 1: HELENE’S DEVASTATION CHANGED EVERYTHING ABOUT THEIR WEDDING, EXCEPT THE IMPORTANT PART
The wedding in Lake Lure was both a demonstration of the kind of flexibility marriage requires and a desperately needed bit of joy in the face of a natural disaster. | Published September 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Martha Quillin
NO. 2: WHEN HELENE HIT NC’S GREEN RIVER GORGE, WOMAN’S ONLY ESCAPE ROUTE WAS OVER THE MOUNTAIN
Helene destroyed 37 homes on Green River Cove Road, along an iconic whitewater kayaking stretch. Here’s how one woman escaped the flood. | Published October 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by Adam Wagner
NO. 3: BAPTISTS ON MISSION AMONG HELPERS AT WORK IN WESTERN NC AFTER HELENE DEVASTATION
The needs are great, for clean drinking water, food and the muscle and skill required to safely remove fallen trees from homes. | Published September 30, 2024 | Read Full Story by Martha Quillin
NO. 4: HELENE DEVASTATED THIS SMALL ASHE COUNTY TOWN. NOW ITS RESIDENTS ARE FEEDING ONE ANOTHER
The larger world is now beginning to see the extent of ruin in North Carolina’s northwest corner. | Published September 30, 2024 | Read Full Story by Josh Shaffer
NO. 5: HE JUMPED INTO A RIVER TO SURVIVE HELENE. SHELTERING NEAR CHARLOTTE, HE LOOKS FORWARD.
As Helene’s floodwaters crumbled his Black Mountain home, he jumped into a river, hiked down a mountain and hitchhiked to town. Now he’s hoping for a new start. | Published October 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Gavin Off
NO. 6: PILOTS GET NEEDED SUPPLIES TO BATTERED WESTERN NC AND BEYOND, ONE DELIVERY AT A TIME
With thousands left in need after Hurricane Helene, Charlotte-area volunteer pilots are keeping hope aloft. | Published October 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Rebecca Noel
NO. 7: THEIR WESTERN NC HOME SURVIVED HELENE. WHY THEY STILL LEFT FOR CHARLOTTE SEEKING HOUSING
People from around Asheville and nearby areas lit out for Hickory, Charlotte and other destinations seeking temporary housing options. | Published October 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Desiree Mathurin
NO. 8: PHOTOS: VOLUNTEERS TAKE ON THE TASK OF RECOVERY IN FLOODED NC MOUNTAIN TOWN
The Appalachian Trail runs down the main street in Hot Springs. During Helene, the French Broad River raged down the same path. | Published October 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Robert Willett
NO. 9: CHEF JOSÉ ANDRÉS AND WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN DISTRIBUTE THOUSANDS OF MEALS IN WESTERN NC
“There’s this sense of gratitude that World Central Kitchen brings, but also...I don’t want you here because I know what that means. It means mass devastation.” | Published October 2, 2024 | Read Full Story by Drew Jackson
NO. 10: THERE WILL BE SO MANY HELENE STORIES TO COME IN NC. WE’RE COMMITTED TO TELLING THEM
Journalists from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer are providing coverage of Helene’s aftermath from across North Carolina. We don’t want this area to be forgotten. | Published October 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Thad Ogburn
NO. 11: WHAT’S IT REALLY LIKE WHEN THE ARMY ARRIVES TO HELP WESTERN NC POST-HELENE? WE TAGGED ALONG
Fort Liberty soldiers share personal stories while helping to rebuild and provide relief to those affected by the hurricane. | Published October 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Catherine Muccigrosso
NO. 12: PHOTOS: WESTERN NC FLOOD VICTIMS TURN TO FAITH AND CHURCH IN THE FACE OF DISASTER
People in the mountains of NC impacted by the flooding from Helene gathered in churches and parking lots for prayer and support on the weekend following the the disastrous storm. | Published October 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Travis Long
NO. 13: IN NC’S TINY ‘DOGTOWN,’ HURRICANE HELENE’S FURY LEFT THESE CLOSE COUSINS WORLDS APART
After the storm, Jeannette Bledsoe, 72, and Jo Anne Biser, 70, were left stranded and isolated in their Avery County houses, anxious about each other’s well-being. Then Penny Turner came looking for them. | Published October 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Théoden Janes
NO. 14: WATCH: POPULAR YOUTUBER USES CHOPPER TO RESCUE HURRICANE HELENE VICTIMS IN WESTERN NC
The video has nearly 1.8 million views. | Published October 3, 2024 | Read Full Story by Evan Moore
NO. 15: POOLS, BOTTLES, CREEKS: HOW ONE WESTERN NC COMMUNITY IS FINDING WATER AFTER HELENE DAMAGE
“You don’t really, really recognize how lucky we were before,” said Lashonda Lytle. “You’re not able to live your normal life.” | Published October 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tracy Kimball
This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.
This story was originally published October 15, 2024 at 3:33 PM with the headline "15 stories of hope, resilience and community after Helene’s fury in Western North Carolina."