Community News
Western North Carolina Communities Still Recovering Two Years After Hurricane Helene
Two years after Hurricane Helene struck in October 2024, communities in western North Carolina including Spruce Pine, Marshall, and Asheville continue rebuilding. In Spruce Pine, a historic train depot was torn down while DT's Blue Ridge Java restaurant reopened after taking 8 feet of floodwater; owners David and Tricia Niven financed reconstruction with savings and a loan. A water treatment plant and pedestrian bridge remain under replacement, some residents still live in trailers, and the local grocery store is closed. In Marshall, the arts center absorbed 6 feet 3 inches of water and its FEMA grant application has not been funded after two years. Residents report that federal recovery money remains slow to arrive, while Vice President Vance visited North Carolina on October 19, 2026, to pledge additional Helene recovery funding.