Hurricane Helene Relief & Recovery

When Tropical Storm Helene tore through the region, it left a trail of destruction in its path, including a particular home in Henderson County, which was split nearly in half by a massive double-trunk oak tree. The storm’s impact was not only physical but emotional: the homeowner’s daughter was home alone when the tree came crashing down through the center of the house. Roads were blocked for hours, leaving her mother unable to reach her. For safety, the daughter waited in the family car in the driveway. She was shaken, but unharmed.

Thanks to the incredible dedication of volunteers and support from local organizations, the home is rising from the wreckage stronger than ever. The extent of the damage required nearly the entire home to be rebuilt, from subflooring to the roof. But with challenge came opportunity. Volunteer construction crews, including members of the Amish community are reimagining the home with a sense of possibility and purpose. A vaulted ceiling and open floorplan now define the living and kitchen areas, complete with a central kitchen island and new back porch. Both bedrooms have been designed with vaulted ceilings as well, offering a spacious and comforting environment.

A key feature of the rebuild is the heavy-duty laminated beam that spans the length of the house, a structural anchor that has helped ease the daughter’s fears of returning to a home that once felt unsafe. Although much of the home has been modernized, Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC) is committed to preserving what made this house a home. One example: the homeowner’s wood-burning stove will be reinstalled in the living room, honoring her connection to the space and ensuring warmth in more ways than one.

In addition to the home itself, a detached structure on the property, too damaged to be salvaged, has been demolished and rebuilt. This versatile space will serve as both an art studio for the homeowner and a play area for her daughter, reinforcing the role of creativity and healing in their recovery.

Support from the Community Foundation of Henderson County (CFHC) has been critical to making this rebuild a reality. In November 2024, CFHC awarded a $10,000 grant to HAC, helping to bridge the funding gap for homes like this, homes that too often fall between the cracks of state and federal assistance. Originally estimated at $60,000, the cost of rebuilding has been cut in half thanks to donated materials and volunteer labor.

 “This home represents more than shelter. It’s a symbol of safety, dignity, and the community’s willingness to stand beside those in need,” said Noelle McKay of HAC. “Together, we are helping families heal.”

When Executive Director Maureen Graham first stepped into The Medical Loan Closet after the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene, she was met with devastation: over eight feet of water had destroyed their entire inventory of medical equipment. Mud covered everything. Wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds—all gone. The damage sustained was a total loss for the nonprofit.

But just two weeks later, the recovery began. The metal building was stripped to the studs, and Maureen turned to the Henderson County community for help. Thanks to the Community Foundation of Henderson County (CFHC) and its Disaster Relief Recovery and Rebuilding Fund, The Medical Loan Closet received a $25,000 grant. An additional $13,000 from a previously awarded expansion grant was repurposed to aid in the rebuild.

For the past 60 years, The Medical Loan Closet has provided loans of durable medical equipment to the residents of Henderson County and the surrounding area. With a renewed focus on efficiency and sustainability, the team redesigned their space to better serve for the next 60 years and beyond. Improvements included a kitchen for staff and volunteers, increased storage, new warehouse shelving, a tool room, and essential utility facilities. “We are so much better now,” Maureen shared. “We made the best use of the space that we could.”

While the storm destroyed their building, it didn’t stop their mission. Staff and volunteers operated out of the parking lot when weather allowed, continuing to serve the community even without a roof overhead. By January 2025, just three months after the disaster, The Medical Loan Closet reopened—stronger, more organized, and full of gratitude.

“Community Foundation of Henderson County really came through for us,” said Maureen. “We’re very excited for what we came back from. We are truly blessed.”

In the days, weeks, and months following the Helene storm, the WNC Air Museum shifted its focus from aviation to service, transforming into a vital rescue and relief hub for Henderson County. Although the museum itself sustained significant damage, it delayed its own recovery efforts to support the community. The site later became a distribution center for essential supplies until operations wound down in December 2024.

Storm damage varied across the museum's facilities. Floodwaters reached between 2 and 8 feet depending on the building’s location. The museum hangar took in about 2 feet of water, requiring all sheetrock to be replaced up to 4 feet high. Fortunately, no aircraft were lost in the museum hangar. However, The Alan Bruce Aviation Reference and Research Library suffered the loss of numerous books and periodicals, and several display cases containing historical artifacts were destroyed.

The repair hangar endured 4 feet of flooding, ruining critical tools and equipment used to restore and maintain aircraft in the museum’s collection. Meanwhile, the hangar rented to individuals for private aircraft storage saw the worst of the damage, with 8 feet of water flooding the space and severely damaging the hangar doors.

By prioritizing community recovery, the museum postponed its own rebuilding until January 2025. With the help of a $35,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Henderson County, the WNC Air Museum was able to hire professionals for remediation and repairs, significantly speeding up its recovery timeline.

Mark Cigal of the WNC Air Museum expressed heartfelt appreciation for the grant, stating, “We could not have done it without your support. It made all the difference.”

Thanks to the generosity of donors who contributed to the Disaster Relief Recovery and Rebuilding Fund, organizations like the WNC Air Museum have not only recovered but are now fully operational in time for summer camps and the tourism season, once again sharing the vital story of aviation history with the public.