Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region causing flooding and wind damage. The storm then made its way through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia bringing heavy rain and high winds to an area that was already saturated by rain earlier in the week.  

What happened next was eerily similar to other historic flooding events – the 1940 Flood (in the High Country area) and the 1916 Flood (in Asheville). For the 1940 flood, a hurricane made landfall in South Carolina, then came up through Georgia crossing over the mountains of North Carolina before attaching itself to a cold front that dragged it back through the mountains leaving behind several inches of rain, flooding waters, and landslides.  

Not many people are alive to share firsthand stories of the 1916 and 1940 floods, but the photos from those times bear a striking resemblance to those from Helene.   

As people across the state of North Carolina, the Southeast region, and the United States saw the devastation, the phone calls and the supplies started flowing. Sometimes it’s hard for mountain folk to ask for help, but we knew that THIS was not something we could handle on our own. It’s been a year now, so we want to share our sincere thanks to those who helped ALL of us and to those who are continuing to help us. Mast Store’s President Lisa Cooper shared, “This recovery effort is a marathon; it’s not a sprint.” 

Shortcuts to Other Sections:

• We've Come a Long Way
• Stories of Resiliency
• Mountain Strong
• We're Open
• You Can Help

We’ve Come a Long Way 

As many a grandmother has observed, “Many hands make light work.” The mountains saw another flood as September drew to a close. This one was welcomed as thousands of volunteers made their way through downed trees, washed-out roads, and dangling power lines to do whatever they could. Friends of the mountains used their connections to muster up a convoy of NASCAR trucks filled with water and supplies. Churches gathered food and clothing to help those who were displaced or had lost everything. Anyone who had a chainsaw and fuel caddies streamed in to clear the roads and cut trees off homes and power lines.  

In some areas, it’s difficult to see any of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene last September. Debris has been cleared, roads patched or repaved, and new powerlines strung. Businesses have reopened and phone service and internet are restored.   

At the Mast Store, we were lucky. The only location that had any flood damage was the Annex in Valle Crucis, North Carolina. It sits beside Dutch Creek, which often ventures outside its banks, so the employees at the store follow a protocol whenever they believe the water “may get up.” Preparation includes sandbagging the doors and opening and funneling the “floodgates,” which are trap doors in the floor that allow the water to pass freely through the hatches and under the floor. 

According to Sharon, the fashion area manager at the Annex, “We did take a few extra precautions as Helene was approaching. We moved items in backstock to higher positions on shelves and off the floor, and we carried some stock upstairs.”  

When the flood waters receded, more than four feet of water had piled up on the doors of the Annex, but only about six to 10 inches made it into the store, which limited the losses and damage to merchandise and the building. The parking area, which was the landing spot of a storage building and other items from upstream, needed the most attention and repairs. Employees from the Annex, the Home Office, and volunteers from the local community showed up as soon as it was safe to shovel out the mud, clean, make repairs, and get ready to re-open.  

The Mast Store Annex re-opened for business on Saturday, October 12, with a ceremony that included marking the high-water line on the front door.  

The stores in Hendersonville and Asheville were closed until October 4 and October 18, respectively, not for damage to the buildings but because of infrastructure problems – disruptions to phone service, a lack of clean water, and damage to roadways. We have, indeed, come a long way, but there’s still a long way to travel. 

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Stories of Resiliency 

The mountains are filled with stories of bravery, fortitude, determination, and creative thinking in response to the damage Hurricane Helene left behind. Just look around almost everywhere, and you’ll find one. We wanted to share the stories of some of our vendors who faced the storm and how they responded.  

Josh with Primitive Woodsman Knives was making plans to grow his business by adding new employees and equipment; Alyssa was growing her company’s new Barefoot Baby Foundation by engaging in projects that brought families and communities together; and Melissa and Jessie, sisters who grew up in Valle Crucis, were busy with their flourishing handcrafted organic tea company. None of them expected the scenario they woke up to on September 27, 2024. 

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Josh Morgan of Primitive Woodsman Knife Shop outside of Boone in Zionville, NC, has been in business since 2018. The shop focuses primarily on hand-crafted fixed blade knives for outdoor use as well as culinary knives and other specialties. 

Hurricane Helene nearly destroyed the shop, but not from rising river waters as one might expect. Rather, the unrelenting rains resulted in a landslide on the hill behind the shop. 

“By the second day the rain had been coming down hard and the entire hillside had come down through the back wall, through a secondary wall, and was resting against a third interior wall which was buckling throughout the building,” shared Josh. “There was chest-high mud through about a third of the building.” 

A lot of tools and equipment became buried, mangled from the shear impact of the landslide and crushed beneath mud and concrete block. Josh and his staff rushed to salvage as much as humanly possible, not knowing if the rest of the concrete block structure would collapse at any minute. 

“It was a pretty chaotic scenario, as it was for most people in Western North Carolina,” Josh said. “We just did the best we could with what we had.” 

There was a need to remove a lot of equipment, very heavy equipment, including a new, and very expensive, water jet cutting machine. It had to be lifted and moved across the county to a leased space in another shop. That move alone cost $10,000 and, a year later, the machine has yet to be returned to the now repaired shop. Josh hopes to accomplish that in the coming weeks. 

“At least it’s functioning, and we can use it,” Josh said. “But we lost tens of thousands of dollars' worth of equipment and materials.”  

While the shop was attempting to regroup and begin production, one of their distributors started a GoFundMe campaign to keep the shop open and pay employees. 

“It was awesome that the community came together for that,” Josh said. “This was their main job, and we could pay them while we couldn’t make things. 

“People from the community also came out and put hands on, pulling things from the mud and cleaning it off.” Josh continued. “We had a lot of help from the knife community and the local community at large.” 

Now, a year later, they are not back to full capacity and have struggled for the last year to meet production goals and order fulfillment. However, the walls have been rebuilt, and Primitive Woodsman has since been able to purchase the building, which was leased at the time of the hurricane.  

“The silver lining is that we can now make repairs that are more well-suited to our production,” Josh said. “We’re building it back better than it was.” 

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Marion, North Carolina, welcomes visitors with the charming slogan, “Where the mountains meet Main Street.” That sentiment especially appealed to Alyssa and Matt Hughes, who moved their young family to Marion in the early part of the decade. By 2023, Alyssa opened her company’s first brick-and-mortar location within that very Main Street district. The community embraced Alyssa, founder and owner of Barefoot Baby, and her family in their short time as locals and made them feel at home. 

Downtown Marion, including Barefoot Baby’s headquarters, emerged from Hurricane Helene relatively unscathed. Such was far from the case for many less fortunate residents just outside of town and throughout the region. Alyssa turned the storm’s aftermath into an opportunity to return the graciousness and hospitality with which Marion had received her own family. She shifted the focus of the Barefoot Baby Foundation to heal her neighbors’ trauma and restore a sense of community. In Alyssa’s eyes, the adjustment clarified her company’s mission. 

“All of our foundation work has been centered around memory-making, but the hurricane really put into perspective how this is our chance to give families light in whatever darkness they might be facing,” Alyssa states. 

The Barefoot Baby Foundation’s “This Little Light Project” distributed more than 1,000 kits containing board games, coloring books, and art supplies to children in heavily affected McDowell and Buncombe Counties. Alyssa explains that these materials were intended to help parents guide their family’s recovery by bonding, finding gratitude, and strengthening ties amidst a crisis. 

The foundation also redefined its “Front Porch Project.”  This initiative, which launched just months before Helene hit, took on the new meaning of creating safe outdoor spaces where families could reconnect with nature, neighbors, and each other. 

Alyssa reflects on the lasting impact the project had on one family. 

“One of the families we built a porch for was for a single mom of two kids,” Alyssa begins. “She is a nurse and one of her children is a teenager, so between normal growing up and her work hours, it is not often that they took simple time to be together as a family. With our addition of the front porch, which also included outdoor furniture, her family was able to sit outside together and just ‘be.’ The front porch wasn't just a little light in that moment, but it is a guiding light for years to come.” 

Although the storm has passed, Alyssa sees there’s still work to be done to unite her neighbors. She believes shared experiences, public gatherings, and community events, like an upcoming Halloween party that Barefoot Baby will host for the entire town of Marion, move those she cares about a little farther down the long road of recovery and healing. 

“Now we are focusing on bringing families together and getting them outside, specifically to places that have been newly opened or changed since the hurricane. We want to host events and show people the beautiful and safe green spaces in our community, reminding them that nature doesn't have to be limited only to trauma,” Alyssa says.  “We are going to continue the mission of helping Western North Carolina families realize that – despite their experiences during Helene – the outdoors are still the GREATEST and most impactful place where families make memories.” 

To learn more about the Barefoot Baby Foundation’s work, click HERE, or check out Mast General Store’s selection of Barefoot Baby apparel and accessories. 

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Asheville Tea Company is a business filled with passion – not just for tea but also for community and connections. Jessie Dean, the founder of the company, works with her sister Melissa, both of whom grew up in Valle Crucis. Melissa shared, “One of my fondest memories of Valle Crucis and the Mast Store was coming in early in the morning before school and picking up honeybuns that we ate with the old-timers around the stove.” 

With a facility located near the Swannanoa River, it’s always prudent to take steps to mitigate damage from water that may come in during times of flooding. The staff put some things on higher shelves Thursday evening, and the cars were packed with what they would need at the farmers market the next day. They expected some high water and a little clean up, but they also expected to return to an intact workspace. 

Instead, everything but some cinderblocks, partially opened bags of herbs, and pieces of tea blend boxes had washed away. “Our team has been a tremendous source of support for me – I’d say we’ve all been there for each other,” shared Jessie. “Once we knew everyone was safe, there was a period of time that we focused on our community and immediate needs.” 

Asheville Tea Company works with a number of local farmers. “Many farmers experienced horrible losses. Fortunately, the farmers we work with directly in this region were among some of the farms that did not experience catastrophic damage, though there were some crop and financial losses. 

“We were completely awe-struck by the help so many farmers and tea suppliers gave us in the aftermath of Helene. They donated herbs, teas and botanicals, and extended payment terms so that we could act quickly to produce new tea and try to get back on our feet,” continued Jessie. 

She pointed out one of the things she realized is that supply chains are not one-directional. “We are all creating an ecosystem together and leaning into resilient and regional sourcing relationships.” 

Jessie, Melissa, and the Asheville Tea team took a field trip almost a month after the storm to harvest chrysanthemum at Biome Botanicals in East Asheville. “Honestly, it was probably one of our favorite moments as a team after the storm. For so many weeks, all we saw was brown dust and dirt covering everything. To spend the day harvesting these incredibly bright, cheerful yellow flowers was an experience that I think brought us all back to life. A ray of sunshine,” said Melissa. “We do have a long road to recovery but harvesting these beautiful flowers that survived the storm give us hope for brighter days to come.” 

In a strange way, Helene presented Jessie and her staff with a clean slate. “I think that this gives us an opportunity to rethink most everything and to lean into what was working very well and let go of what hasn’t been.” 

Asheville Tea Company is in search of a new location to call home in 2026, but for now, they are set up at the AB Tech Small Business Center, where they are curating their latest blends.  

Tea is a tradition around the world. Different cultures serve tea as a way to welcome a friend and to build community. As Jessie experienced different teas on her travels, she began thinking how there are so many farmers in the Western North Carolina region that are growing medicinal and culinary herbs. They would surely make a great cup of tea that is fresher and more impactful on our community and environment. And that’s what the Asheville Tea Company team is planning for. 

“We are focusing on a lot of processes that we have identified that could be implemented more efficiently and creating systems that allow us to better lean into our values and meet the demand for our tea,” said Jessie. “Overall, so many people in our community and beyond offered support to us this past year, and I’ll never forget that.” 

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Mountain Strong 

Mountain people have an independent streak. The first European families who moved to the mountains were the Scots-Irish, English, and German peoples. Just being able to survive in the mountains from the 1700s speaks of their determination and creativity. That perseverance and pride are still engrained in those whose roots run deep in the mountains. But sometimes strength can be found in knowing when to ask for help. The aftermath of Helene was one of those times.  

So many people showed up to help. And those who couldn’t show up in person were asking how they could provide assistance either by making a donation of cash or providing materials, food, water, etc.  

The Mountain Strong t-shirts are a part of the relief and rebuilding process. It was a way the Mast Store could connect those wanting to help with a way that speaks to the spirit of the mountains and those who call them home. 

“When we started with the t-shirts, we had no idea how much we would be able to raise to help,” said Lisa Cooper. “But thanks to so many people who want to help and love the design, we’ve been able to make some pretty impactful contributions.” 

As of this writing (September 25, 2025), Mast Store’s Mountain Strong t-shirts, hoodies, and ornaments have made a real impact in our region with a total contribution to relief efforts of $200,000! Needs of almost every kind have been addressed – from helping re-open small businesses to restoring stream banks and rebuilding homes to making sure meals are on the table. 

“None of this could happen without the support of our guests, neighbors, and fans,” continued Lisa.  “We are thankful for all the support we’ve received as a store and as a region from across the country.” 

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We are Open 

The Western North Carolina Mountains were closed for several weeks after Helene to assess the damage and make repairs to main roads needed to bring materials to begin the rebuilding process. In the year since Helene blew through, the area has made a lot of progress with its recovery efforts. It’s not finished by any stretch of the imagination, but roads, businesses, attractions, and state and national parks are open and need you to stop by for a visit. 

In the immediate wake of the storm, many in the tourism business were rolling up their sleeves to help. "Following Hurricane Helene's devastation, many of our tourism attractions and partners stepped up to assist area communities in a big way. Tweetsie Railroad donated $10,000 to Samaritan's Purse and launched the Tweetsie Challenge to match up to another $10,000 in donations.  In total, they raised more than $85,000 for relief and rebuilding efforts," shared Wright Tilley, executive director of Explore Boone.  

Tweetsie also donated all the candy waiting to be used for its popular Ghost Train weekends to Downtown Boo! (and other events/needs happening in the local area) making it possible for many businesses to host trick-or-treaters to spread smiles and provide a little normalcy in a time where little was normal. 

"The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation and Grandfather Mountain staff shifted from park operations to relief efforts to bring help to the surrounding mountain communities,” continued Wright. "They provided essential supplies, coordinated cleanups, bought generators and gas grills, and prepared meals for rescue workers and residents." 

Work has continued over the last 11 months to clear and repair the Blue Ridge Parkway and state park properties. North Carolina’s state parks were closed for a number of months due to storm damage, but as of September 15, 2025, all state parks, including Mount Mitchell State Park are open.  

The Blue Ridge Parkway is the most-visited unit in the National Park Service, and it sustained an immense amount of damage from the storm. From the roadbed itself being damaged or washed away to thousands and thousands of downed trees. Sections of the Parkway have been re-opening since early summer.  

"We are grateful to all of those that worked tirelessly to get our area's State Parks and much of the Blue Ridge Parkway back open for the Fall,” said Wright. "The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of our most popular drives during leaf season and provides access to local attractions like the Moses Cone Estate and Linn Cove Viaduct, as well as hiking trails and other scenic overlooks." 

Thanks to the work of National Park Service volunteers and Park Service employees from across the country, a lot of the roadway and part of the campground at Julian Price Park is now open – including the world-famous Linn Cove Viaduct. You can check roadway closures at this LINK. 

This fall will be a great time to return to the mountains – we are open and would love to see you! Most of your favorite attractions are open, but some may have a different route to travel to get to them or may have a little different hours. It’s always a good idea to verify hours, new procedures, etc. via their official websites before showing up at the door.  

For information on destinations, attractions, and things to do and see, visit these websites:  

• Explore Boone 
• Explore Asheville    
• High Country Host   
• Visit Haywood County (Waynesville)   
• Visit Hendersonville, NC    

"Many businesses in the mountain area depend on tourism and visitors to stay in business. The Fall season is especially vital to local businesses in order to make it through the leaner winter months,” explained Wright. “We are inviting and welcoming visitors back to the Boone area and to all the mountains.  We need you to come visit, shop in our stores, eat in our restaurants, and experience the beauty of the Western North Carolina Mountains.  Now is the time to come ‘Back to Boone!’" 

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You Can Help 

To reiterate, we have made progress, but there is A LOT of work left to be done. Volunteer groups and individuals are busy almost every day repairing homes, cleaning up debris, and stabilizing riverbanks. There’s room for a few more if you’re interested! 

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCoR) has been at work in many counties in Western North Carolina, including Buncombe, Avery, and Mitchell, and is now opening an office to serve Ashe and Watauga Counties. Doug Uzelac, who just retired from decades in the hospitality industry, and Judd Pinnix are collaborating as construction coordinators for the Ashe/Watauga Regional Team. 

“My retirement didn’t last long,” said Doug. “I have always liked doing projects around the house. And for now, there was a need, and I had the time and knowledge to help.”  

While other organizations are focusing on building new structures, UMCoR is using an all-volunteer workforce to get families back into safe, sanitary, and secure homes. 

“Every situation is different,” shared Doug, “and there is an evaluation process to get help. We start by asking those looking for assistance to share what happened on the day of the storm – were you at the house when the damage happened, are you up to date on your mortgage, did you get any money from FEMA or your insurance?” Some other criteria used for elevating cases include if there are children in the home, if the client is elderly, or if there are medical conditions at play. 

Doug said that the work is hard but rewarding. “If we have a good group of people and all of the supplies we need, we can knock out a whole house in about two weeks.” 

The week usually starts on a Sunday when groups from out of town arrive on the mountain. Then on Monday morning, there’s a huddle with the client to discuss the scope of work, and the team dives into the project. 

“It can be delicate at times,” said Doug. “When a homeowner has all their worldly goods sitting on their front yard, and you are working with them to determine what to keep and what needs to go, it’s humbling, emotional, and hard. But it’s part of the process that needs to be handled with compassion and respect to get them back into their home.” 

Volunteers are welcome from everywhere, including the local community. “We are going to build a local database of people who can fill in when work teams are short on members or when there are gaps between visiting work teams to ensure the rebuilding continues. Local individuals who can donate a week, a day, or just a few hours are welcome.” (If you would like to add your name to the local database, contact Doug Uzelac via e-mail – [email protected]. Be sure to include your contact information, what days and what ways you can help.) 

Photo above: A Crew from First United Methodist Church and St. William Catholic Church in Murphy, NC is working on a home in Ashe County.

If you’d like to make a donation to help with rebuilding homes, checks may be made payable to United Methodist Church Disaster Recovery, 495 NC Highway 194 S, West Jefferson, NC 28694 or you can make a donation online HERE.  

Here's another place where you can find information, make donations, and volunteer to help: Western North Carolina Conference United Methodist Church Disaster Ministries for Hurricane Helene.

If you are an individual living in Ashe or Watauga County who needs assistance to get your home back to safe, secure, and sanitary conditions, call the disaster recovery office at 828-760-5433. 

Baptists on Mission are also hard at work in the mountains of North Carolina. If you are a homeowner still needing assistance, follow this LINK to learn more. And if you would like to volunteer or donate, here’s a LINK to sign up to help. 

It is important to note that you don’t need to be an expert carpenter, painter, etc. These groups will teach you what you need to know to get people back into their homes. 

Looking for other options to volunteer? 

Food security partners in all areas can always use volunteers to unload trucks, pack care boxes, re-pack food, stock shelves. Most of these organizations allow children to pitch in, too. Follow the links for more volunteer information: 

• Hunger & Health Coalition (Boone area)  
• Feeding Avery Families  
• MANNA FoodBank  

Our rivers and streams still need some TLC. If you want to help with clean up or live staking on river and creek banks, try these organizations: 

• MountainTrue  
• New River Conservancy  

National Parks Volunteers 

The Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains are holding a Public Lands volunteer day on Saturday, September 27, 2025 (before the release of this blog). There are always volunteer opportunities in all parks – national, state, and local – so keep an eye on these  links for future opportunities:   

• Blue Ridge Parkway  
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park  

More Resources 

• NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources