Seventeen months ago, Hurricane Helene barreled into Western North Carolina with wind gusts reaching 106 mph and 30 inches of rain. Rivers crested at unprecedented levels, surpassing records set 120 years ago by more than eight feet in some areas. Businesses and homes didn’t stand a chance.
Hurricane Helene claimed at least 252 lives, nearly half of them in Western North Carolina, most by drowning. In the region, 74,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. While insurance covered some losses, standard homeowners policies typically did not cover flood damage — even in areas not previously considered at risk.
As is often the case during natural disasters and their aftermath, “the least of these” — the poor, immigrants, and the marginalized, suffered the most during Hurricane Helene. Their homes, often mobile homes located in vulnerable areas near rivers or in hollers susceptible to mudslides, could not withstand the high winds, flooding, and resulting debris and mud slides. Prized possessions became ever-growing piles of rubble. With their jobs also swept away by Helene, many families were left in desperate need of help.
Within days, United Methodists were on the ground in some of the hardest-hit communities, including Swannanoa, Spruce Pine, and Valle Crucis. UMCOR provided grants to the Western North Carolina Conference Disaster Ministries and to local churches — some damaged by Helene and others serving as relief centers.
Belmonters joined the effort as well, with the Graham-Inquirers, Covenant, and Friendship Sunday school classes, along with dozens of individuals, providing food, water, temporary housing, children’s books while schools were closed for eight weeks, and building materials. Thank you, Belmont!
Belmont UMC’s Ministry Council and Outreach Committee have designated the Western North Carolina Conference Disaster Ministries as the recipient of this year’s Lenten Offering — the beginning of a deepening partnership as homes and lives are rebuilt across Western North Carolina in the years ahead. Please give generously.
All proceeds will be used by the Western North Carolina Conference Disaster Ministries to rebuild a home flooded by Hurricane Helene.