One Year Later: Acknowledging Post-Helene Trauma As WNC Communities Continue To Rebuild & Recover
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly a year since everything changed in Western North Carolina.
This September and October marks one year since Hurricane Helene swept through our mountain region, leaving behind a trail of destruction that reshaped lives, landscapes, and communities. Homes were lost, families displaced, and the emotional toll continues to ripple through our region.
For many, Helene wasn’t just a storm—it was a turning point. A moment that divided life into “before” and “after.”
As we approach this anniversary, we pause to reflect—not just on what was lost, but on what has been rebuilt, and what still lies ahead.
As we mark 12 months since Hurricane Helene, we reflect on the challenges our community has faced. The storm brought uncertainty, hardship, and loss, but it also highlighted the immense strength and resilience within us all. Today, we remember the courage and kindness that helped us through the toughest moments and honor the spirit of connection that continues to move us forward.
Stories of Strength & Solidarity
Despite the hardships, the past year has also revealed the incredible strength of Appalachian communities. Neighbors have come together to clear debris, rebuild roads, and support one another through shared childcare, home repair, meal delivery, supply drives, and emotional care. So many people in our community showed up with resources to share, and most of all- open hearts.
These acts of solidarity are not just heartwarming—they are the foundation of our region’s recovery through mutual aid and community care.
While signs of renewal are visible—reopened highways, repaired homes, and returning businesses—many challenges remain. Funding gaps persist, especially in smaller rural towns in the 25 Helene-impacted counties. Environmental restoration is ongoing, and the economic impact on our region continues to unfold.
Our work continues. And so does our HOPE.
In this heart-felt roundtable discussion with WLOS in August of 2025, our Executive Director Ann DuPre Rogers, offers listening and support for several WNC residents as they tell their story post-Helene.
Takeaways:
- “One way to think about trauma is ‘too much, too fast.’ And certainly in the case of Helene, nobody could have been prepared for that.”
- “Short-term emotional compartmentalization can help us get through the big overwhelming times but overtime, if we are having to push through and avoid processing those emotions can kinda get stuck in our bodies.”
- “In the midst of crisis Fight Flight Freeze can be life-saving, but if we stay in those states for too long, that’s when it can take a toll on our health mentally and physically. Depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, headache. The effects can be physical or emotional, or both.”
- “I feel like everybody I’ve talked to in Western North Carolina has survivor’s guilt- or ‘survivors grief’ if we want to think of it another way. No matter how bad someone had it, they immediately think, ‘it could have been worse’ or ‘I feel guilty because…’. And part of that comes from our incredible drive for connection and belonging. We are so wired to care for each other, to help eachother, to compare stories, and hold other people’s pain. Let’s honor our sense of community and think of it that guilt as part of the grieving process.”
- “As we’re going through the healing process, there will often be the times we do feel emotional and not so good. And we can have tenderness for those times, while asking ‘what is also true?’ And what is also true is the light, the hope, the healing, that we’re not alone, that we’re seen, we’re heard, we’re ok, that we are adjusting and adapting. Both can be true.”
forget the Helene gratitude. I can let go of the grief, . I’m grateful that every morning I see the sun. I have a place that’s secure. My son is safe and happy. That’s all a blessing. Every day is about experiencing more of the grateful part.”
Nicole K. , WNC Resident
The Lingering Impact of Trauma
While damage can be repaired and debris can be cleaned up, the memories and the feelings stay with us and sometimes never go away.
The emotional aftermath of Helene is still deeply felt across our regions. For those who lost loved ones, homes, or livelihoods, recovery is not just about rebuilding structures—it’s about healing from trauma.
Anniversary or milestone dates of traumatic events are complex as these memories land in our bodies so many different ways. These events can stir up powerful emotions, sometimes unexpectedly. Mental health struggles, stress, anxiety, and even relapses in substance abuse are common during this time.
Remember, there is no right or wrong way to process and feel at this time. All feelings are normal:
- Overwhelm
- Grief/Sadness
- Avoidance
- Numbness
- Shock, awe
- A mix of all of this
May you find yourself honoring this date in whatever way that feels most aligned and truthful for you. Some nourishing ideas from our team include:
- Cooking or baking
- Volunteering
- Nature hikes and meditation
- Community events
- Developing new grieving rituals and traditions
This crisis has shown us so many things: how much we rely on each other, how much we are capable of, and how strong we actually are.
Community Anniversary Events
Many local organizations are coordinating events to commemorate the 1-year make since Helene. Whether you choose to honor the anniversary by attending a live music concert, a healing retreat, a support group, an educational training, or simply staying home with loved ones, there is a way for everyone in WNC to grieve, process and connect in this time.
Included in these lists are several offerings from Resources For Resilience™. We are proud to offer a variety of community-based programming leading up to Helene’s 1-year anniversary, and beyond!
WNC residents who are interested in community connection, practical tools, simple strategies and research-backed resources to help with the overwhelm and stress they may feel in response to Helene’s anniversary, we are offering the following trainings and workshops:
Interested participants may register for each event using the links above, or view our full event calendar: resourcesforesilience.org/events.
NOTE: Our programming is not intended as a replacement for professional mental health support. For immediate support and additional resources, please consult our trusted partners:
Remember, healing happens in community. Continue to share your stories and check in with your neighbors. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, please know: you are not alone, and it’s okay to seek help. Even though it’s one year later, we want to remind everyone in Western North Carolina that support and resources are still available.
Looking Back
Last fall, the Resources for Resilience team immediately jumped into action after Helene, offering free support programming, sharing resources, and fielding local and national media queries. Over the coming weeks and months, our knowledgeable subject matter experts shared valuable guidance and information to support connection and healing for a wide variety of audiences both here in WNC, and across the nation.
For example, our Director of Resiliency Education, Katie Goetz, spoke with FEMA about how events like Hurricane Helene can jolt our nervous systems – and how our natural responses, whether amped up or shut down, are completely normal.
In 2025, the RFR team was called to participate in several impactful interviews regarding Helene response and recovery:
- NPR: Therapists also recovering from Hurricane Helene have more empathy for clients
- NPR: After Helene’s floods, North Carolina tries to tame trauma’s lasting damage.
- The Appalachian: Mental health resources for students post-Helene.
- WFAE: An update on recovery efforts in the NC mountains from the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene
Holding Gratitude
In times of crisis, the true strength of Western North Carolina emerged through the compassion, courage, and tireless efforts of its people.
From the frontline first responders and healthcare workers to essential employees, educators, local leaders, and mental health providers—each played a vital role in holding our community together. Countless professionals and volunteers stepped up to ensure that care, connection, and hope reached every corner.
To everyone who showed up when it mattered most: your selflessness and dedication lit the way through darkness, proving that humanity prevails through hardship. We will continue to say THANK YOU, and we also know that words can never truly be enough.
“There’s lots of loss, lots of grief, lots of extreme stress, but also, so many stories of connection and love and neighbors helping neighbors and people coming to each other’s aid, and figuring it out together.”
Executive Director, Ann DuPre Rogers (Jan 2025)
Looking Ahead
Despite the heavy toll the storm has taken, our community continues to prove its resilience through acts of kindness and support. And while recovery is a long road, the stories of care and connection serve as a powerful reminder that we are not alone.
Resources for Resilience is grateful to have been able contribute to the lasting resilience of our region for years to come. Even though a year has passed, we know our work is far from done. We continue to hold space for our communities’ grief and pain, and any other complex feelings that arise from tragedy.
From now through Spring 2026, Resources for Resilience is proud to offer on-going trainings and support for individuals, teams and communities across the 25 Helene-impacted counties. This programming is completely FREE for WNC residents, thanks to our generous partners, Vaya Health, the Governor’s Recovery Office of WNC, and the NC DHHS.
- EVERY WEDNESDAY | 12-1pm: Weekly Virtual Listening Circle
- EVERY THURSDAY | 12-1pm: Weekly ‘Reconnecting Through Hard Times’ Training
- FIRST FRIDAYS OF THE MONTH | 12-1pm: Monthly ‘Reconnect for Better Days’ Training
If you’re interested in connecting with others or want to learn more about how you can help friends and loved ones navigate the challenges ahead, we invite you to explore these ongoing programs.
These sessions are particularly beneficial for those serving at the frontline of our communities: first responders, behavioral health providers, civil servants and public officials, community volunteers and any other vital professionals keeping us safe, healthy, informed and connected.
For immediate mental health support and resources: https://bit.ly/WNCSupport
To see all of RFR’s offerings related to the Helene response and recovery: https://bit.ly/GROWNC-Offerings
To stay in the know about all of RFRs upcoming events and initiatives: https://bit.ly/RFRSubscribe
The road to full recovery is long, but the spirit of Appalachia remains true—rooted in grit, determination and perseverance.
As we remember the storm, let us also honor our resilience, and continue to rebuild and restore our communities with both our hearts and our hands. May we remember how our communities came together, how human generosity and kindness prevailed, and how much power and potential we, and nature, both have to regenerate, rebuild, heal and move forward.
Yesterday, today and tomorrow, we remain #WNCStrong.
