One year ago, the people of western North Carolina were hit hard by Hurricane Helene. Janet Shamlian reports the recovery has been painfully slow.

Swannanoa

One year after Hurricane Helene struck Swannanoa, North Carolina, the community is still grappling with the aftermath. Many essential businesses, including the post office, grocery store, and hardware store, remain closed, leaving residents with limited access to basic services. 

Local business owners and community groups have taken on much of the recovery work themselves, citing a lack of resources and slower progress compared to more tourist-focused areas. Despite these challenges, volunteers and residents continue to work together, with some businesses, like the Okidoki Smokehouse, preparing to reopen soon. The community's resilience and determination remain strong as they rebuild.

Scars still visible one year after Hurricane Helene

Recovery in the mountain town of Swannanoa looks a lot like this. Hate, persistence, and plenty of do-it-yourself. How is Swannanoa doing? I think that Swannanoa is still a little bit devastated. We're working little by little, and it is a process. Jodi and Steve Dunning own Okidoki Smokehouse, flooded by Hurricane Helene. In a community that hasn't found SPAC as quickly as others, they're trying to save money tackling the work themselves. Do you feel forgotten here? Yes, absolutely. Why do you think that recovery has lagged here? I think that a lot of resources have gone to where tourism is more popular, and Swannanoa is not that place. Ten miles from Asheville, here in Swannanoa, the post office and the grocery store are still closed. We need our grocery store for access to food. We need the post office. We've lost our hardware store. Our business corridor was completely devastated. Tanya Allen created the Swannanoa Resilience Hub, a community group to help with long-term disaster relief. With gloves and determination, volunteers are turning debris piles into stepping stones for Swannanoa's comeback. It will be a milestone worth savoring when the Dunnings reopen the Smokehouse doors next month. We've stepped out of our box to advocate for Swannanoa. Do you see the glass half full? Absolutely. We've tried. You have to. There's no hope if you don't. A mountain town proving resilience can be stronger than any storm.

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Washington County

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New York

Middle East Conflict

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Paris

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Global Tariffs

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Istanbul

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Centralia

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Manhattan

Ukraine Invasion

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Dallas

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Los Angeles

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Yangjiang

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West Palm Beach

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Breakdown