Cleanup Continues a Year After Hurricane Helene's Devastation

Sun Oct 19 2025 17:44:34 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A year after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across the Southeast U.S., cleanup crews in North Carolina are tirelessly working to restore the French Broad River and its surrounding ecosystems. The storm caused significant destruction, displacing residents and impacting wildlife, prompting a long-term recovery effort.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, communities in North Carolina continue to grapple with the effects of the storm as cleanup efforts are underway. Volunteers and local organizations, such as MountainTrue, are focused on removing debris from waterways and assisting affected residents. Concerns also grow regarding the environmental impact and the safety of local wildlife, particularly endangered species. Efforts to restore normalcy must balance rapid recovery with ecological preservation.

WOODFIN, N.C. (AP) — With water up to his waist, Clancy Loorham wrestles a piece of PVC pipe from the riverbed of the French Broad River, announcing to his fellow cleanup workers, I got a catfish in the pipe! It's been a year since Hurricane Helene flooded the region, leaving debris strewn across the waterways, and cleanup efforts are still ongoing.

Hurricane Helene, which caused over 250 fatalities and inflicted nearly $80 billion in damage, is still felt across North Carolina, where record rainfall transformed streams into torrents. Volunteer organizations are now at work removing remnants of the storm and addressing the ecological concerns that have arisen from debris removal practices.

There are multiple places in my observation where we could shift things to be more careful, said Andrea Leslie, a conservation coordinator, emphasizing the need for an ecological approach to recovery.

Cleanup crews, many of whom are rafting guides affected by the storm, are focused not just on debris removal but also on restoring habitats for wildlife. We’re creating a habitat, but it’s just the wrong habitat, remarked Leslie Beninato, logistics manager at MountainTrue, addressing the challenges of balancing recovery with ecological health.

Local residents, like Vickie and Paul Revis, have also faced the impact of the storm personally. After losing their home, they rebuilt and re-established their lives near the Swannanoa River, hoping the lessons learned from this disaster will help them navigate the future more safely.

As work continues, the dual challenges of addressing immediate recovery needs while considering environmental strategies persist, highlighting the complexity of rebuilding in nature's aftermath.