North Carolina

Helene's impact in Western NC: Photos of damage and healing

By Travis Long , Khadejeh Nikouyeh and Melissa Rodriguez
At left, residents and volunteers clean up on Oct. 1, 2024 after the French Broad River flooded downtown Marshall. At right, work continues on the same area of town almost a year later, minus the mud.
At left, residents and volunteers clean up on Oct. 1, 2024 after the French Broad River flooded downtown Marshall. At right, work continues on the same area of town almost a year later, minus the mud. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com

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Healing from Helene

On Sept. 27, 2024, remnants of Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, killing 108 people and leaving a nearly $60 billion clean up bill statewide. In the year since, the people of Western North Carolina have made progress putting their beautiful part of the state back together. 

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Almost a year after Helene struck, life is nearing normal in parts of Western North Carolina. Many spots are ready for a fall tourist season that barely happened last year.

But vivid scars from the tragic storm remain visible in the landscape of the hardest-hit communities.

Photojournalists from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer covered the chaos immediately after Helene’s historic destruction. Recently, they returned to document the slow process of putting beautiful places back together.

The before-and-after photographs below capture what they found.

Drone views show devastation caused by flooding in Marshall shortly after Helene hit, and a view almost a year later of the ongoing process of cleanup and recovery in the small town.
Drone views show devastation caused by flooding in Marshall shortly after Helene hit, and a view almost a year later of the ongoing process of cleanup and recovery in the small town. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
At left, splintered trees and debris clogged the area around damaged and destroyed homes along Lake Lure on Sept. 28, 2024. A year later, much debris is gone, but damaged residences remain.
At left, splintered trees and debris clogged the area around damaged and destroyed homes along Lake Lure on Sept. 28, 2024. A year later, much debris is gone, but damaged residences remain. Khadejeh Nikouyeh Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
A rescue team from Atlantic Beach, at left, searches a van that Helene flooding swept into the Swannanoa River. At right, debris remains nearly a year after the storm.
A rescue team from Atlantic Beach, at left, searches a van that Helene flooding swept into the Swannanoa River. At right, debris remains nearly a year after the storm. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
At left, Jen Dombrowski arrives in downtown Marshall to help a friend clean up her business on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 after catastrophic flooding of the French Broad River. At right, the same spot has been repaired and tourists are returning to town.
At left, Jen Dombrowski arrives in downtown Marshall to help a friend clean up her business on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 after catastrophic flooding of the French Broad River. At right, the same spot has been repaired and tourists are returning to town. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
This residence in Chimney Rock, at left, was among those destroyed when Helene brought catastrophic damage to Western North Carolina. A year later, little sign of the home remains.
This residence in Chimney Rock, at left, was among those destroyed when Helene brought catastrophic damage to Western North Carolina. A year later, little sign of the home remains. Khadejeh Nikouyeh Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
Boats and debris, including a dock, clogged a portion of Lake Lure in the days after Helene. Almost a year later, the boats are gone, but the process of restoring the lake continues.
Boats and debris, including a dock, clogged a portion of Lake Lure in the days after Helene. Almost a year later, the boats are gone, but the process of restoring the lake continues. Khadejeh Nikouyeh Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
The town of Marshall was hard hit from Helene’s flooding. Almost a year later, some businesses have reopened after a tremendous amount of work by residents and volunteers.
The town of Marshall was hard hit from Helene’s flooding. Almost a year later, some businesses have reopened after a tremendous amount of work by residents and volunteers. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
In the days following Helene, Lake Lure was clogged with massive piles of debris washed downriver from flooding. A year later, work continues to clear and restore the lake.
In the days following Helene, Lake Lure was clogged with massive piles of debris washed downriver from flooding. A year later, work continues to clear and restore the lake. Khadejeh Nikouyeh Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com
At left, Swannanoa residents walk around a section of Old US Highway 70 that was destroyed by flooding from the Swannanoa River on Sept. 29, 2024. A year later, the road is repaired.
At left, Swannanoa residents walk around a section of Old US Highway 70 that was destroyed by flooding from the Swannanoa River on Sept. 29, 2024. A year later, the road is repaired. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com
The photo at left shows damage along Swannanoa River Road, near Biltmore Village in Asheville on Oct. 3, 2024. The image at right shows a bucolic view restored.
The photo at left shows damage along Swannanoa River Road, near Biltmore Village in Asheville on Oct. 3, 2024. The image at right shows a bucolic view restored. Melissa Melvin-Rodgriguez mrodgriguez@charlotteobserver.com
At left, two people and a dog are escorted to a rescue boat in Chimney Rock two days after Helene struck. Almost a year later, nature has started the slow process of healing the landscape.
At left, two people and a dog are escorted to a rescue boat in Chimney Rock two days after Helene struck. Almost a year later, nature has started the slow process of healing the landscape. Khadejeh Nikouyeh Knikouyeh@charlotteobserver.com

This story was originally published September 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Helene's impact in Western NC: Photos of damage and healing."

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Healing from Helene

On Sept. 27, 2024, remnants of Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, killing 108 people and leaving a nearly $60 billion clean up bill statewide. In the year since, the people of Western North Carolina have made progress putting their beautiful part of the state back together. 

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