Key facts
- Western North Carolina communities are preparing for hurricane season.
- Hurricane Helene caused significant destruction nearly two years ago.
- The storm resulted in over 100 fatalities and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses.
- Many residents are still living in temporary housing.
- Buncombe County is establishing a new emergency operations center.
As hurricane season approaches, communities in Western North Carolina are preparing for potential impacts, still reeling from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene nearly two years ago. Residents describe lingering trauma and nightmares from the storm that claimed over one hundred lives and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. Jackie Fenstermacher and her sister Cynthia Dunn, who lost their new home in Fairview, recounted their harrowing experience of floating for miles on a bed amidst debris before being rescued. They, along with many others, have been living in temporary housing, including FEMA units, campers, and sheds. Organizations like Divine Disaster Relief are assisting residents in fundraising for new homes. Buncombe County is taking steps to enhance emergency preparedness by approving funding for a new standalone emergency operations center, intended to improve communication and response capabilities for future disasters. County officials acknowledge that the region is not immune to such events, despite past perceptions.