Families Still Struggling After Hurricane Helene’s Devastation

BURNSVILLE, N.C. – Nearly one year after Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina, many families are still grappling with the aftermath. The storm, which weakened to a tropical storm, damaged over 74,000 homes and incurred around $60 billion in damages, according to the governor’s office.

Amiyah Keele, reflecting on the past year, expressed the frustration of her family’s ongoing recovery. “My entire 20th year of life has been recovering from a storm,” she said. The Keele family currently lives in a camper after around four feet of water flooded their home on September 27, 2024.

The traumatic experience forced the family to escape quickly, with Amiyah recounting, “The water was too high and too fast, like we just made it out.” They spent nearly a week wading through the dangerous currents and waiting for help.

In the immediate aftermath, communication lines were cut, leaving families like the Keeles in the dark about their loved ones. “About a week of just — just nothing, like we didn’t know if anybody else we knew were okay,” Amiyah recalled. Relief efforts began only days later, with volunteers setting up distribution sites nearby, despite families like the Keeles having to walk to get supplies.

“Five days later and luckily, we were blessed with wonderful tents,” Jessica Keele said about their temporary housing as recovery began. This collaborative effort allowed many families to receive much-needed items like a new car and generators.

Despite these small victories, the Keeles still face significant challenges. They now live in a donated camper, with damaged belongings left outside their original home. Jessie noted, “Samaritan's Purse is great. They came and mucked out the house and had a snowball fight with my son.” Their recovery has relied heavily on community support and perseverance.

Across the region, similar stories of struggle are unfolding as families face homelessness, displacement, and stress linked to their lost homes and services. In Swannanoa, 12-year-old Natalie Briggs traversed her former home’s wreckage, reflecting on the emotional toll. “All I could think of was, ‘This isn’t my house,'” she said, highlighting the anxiety many children experience attending school while grappling with the realities of their lost homes.

This ongoing crisis underscores the long-term impact of natural disasters on vulnerable communities. As recovery efforts continue, families hope for stability and support to rebuild their lives.

“We’re actually doing great compared to some people,” Jessica said, although Amiyah adds, “And we’re still struggling.” Their wooden sign in the camper offers a reminder to adapt and keep going amidst the challenges.