10/04/2026
Such an honor to be a part of the recovery process for families in WNC.
Two years later, we remember. And we continue to rebuild.
On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall, bringing catastrophic destruction to communities across the Southeast and devastating Western North Carolina in the days that followed. At least 250 lives were lost, including 107 here in North Carolina. Behind every number is a person deeply loved, a family forever changed, and a community that still feels their absence.
We honor those we lost and hold close the families whose loved ones remain missing. For them, the waiting and uncertainty continue. Two years passing does not put an end to grief.
At Rise Disaster Relief and Recovery Inc., it has been an honor to walk alongside our neighbors through some of the hardest days of their lives.
Together with our partners and supporters, we have closed more than 540 assistance tickets—removing fallen trees, repairing homes and roofs, restoring driveways and culverts, and addressing landslide damage. Each ticket represents a need met and a step toward helping someone feel safe at home again.
But the work continues. We currently have 38 open tickets and average 10–12 new cases every week.
We initially helped 35 families into temporary camper housing. Today, 6 families remain in those campers. That progress means so much, and those still waiting remain at the heart of our work.
We are deeply grateful to Mitchell County Long Term Recovery Group and Samaritan’s Purse for their support in rebuilding homes and restoring culverts and driveways. We also thank WNC Bridge Foundation for funding our Disaster Case Management project this year, helping us guide families through the difficult recovery process.
Working directly with local and state government has been an honor. These partnerships have helped us bring stability, hope, and some sense of normalcy back into the lives of people who have endured unimaginable loss.
To every volunteer, donor, partner, and family who has trusted us: thank you. Every repaired roof, restored driveway, and step toward stable housing matters.
We remember the lives lost. We stand with those still grieving. And we remain committed to the recovery work ahead.
