Courtney Davis

1 day ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Courtney Davis

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — For the first time in more than eight months, Benny and Keva Messner’s home was filled with joy, laughter, and family Monday, as they walked in the door for the very first time. The Messners are among thousands of people who lost everything when Hurricane Helene hit in September. While they did have flood insurance, their daughter, Amy Morgan, says she didn’t think it would cover the repairs needed. At the time, she said she didn’t know what they would do.

1 week ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Courtney Davis

BAT CAVE, N.C. — Driving through the Hickory Nut Gorge, you may be shocked to hear the excitement in the voice of locals about just how far the area has come in the eight months since Helene. “We finally have a bridge over to Chimney Rock Park. It was, I guess, it was just completed. It’s not open yet, but it’s looking pretty good,” said resident Ken Potter.

1 week ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Courtney Davis

BURNSVILLE, N.C. - For more than a decade, real estate agent Stephanie Johnson has been winding through Yancey and Mitchell counties, showing potential buyers everything the rugged terrain has to offer. "For 14 years I've talked about how incredible this place is," Johnson said. "This land and these people healed my soul."But after Helene hit, the mountains and valleys she knew so well were changed forever.

3 weeks ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Courtney Davis

TODD, N.C. — When Kelly McCoy started RiverGirl Fishing Company in 2006, she had no idea nearly 20 years later she’d still be out throwing lines and guiding rafting tours each day. “Running an outfitter is a lot of work,” McCoy said. “With lifting the boats and the kayaks. And when you take people fishing, long days on the water of throwing that fly in there.

1 month ago | spectrumlocalnews.com | Courtney Davis

BOONE, N.C. — With its famous winding roads and unbelievable overlook views, it’s easy to see why the Blue Ridge Parkway is known as "America’s Favorite Drive."But when Helene went through western North Carolina, the heavy rains and winds caused trees to topple and sent entire mountainsides sliding, causing not only catastrophic damage to the road but to the tourism industry across western North Carolina. “It was a devastating time for it to hit in North Carolina,” Wit Tuttell said.