Swannanoa, North Carolina – It’s been more than ten months since then Hurricane Helen Storm across western North Carolina, communities are starting to live in again.
“For months, I’ve only seen 2×4 dirt,” said Vince Floriani, an elementary school teacher and homeowner. “Looking at it now, it might not be big for you, but it’s – it’s on the way.”
Two people rented a duplex apartment in Floriani near the Beacon Village in Swannanoa. He said one of the crew members was a disabled veteran and the other was a refugee from Nicaragua who moved into the residence in September 2024.
North Carolina man sleeps in tent after Hurricane Helen
Vince Floriani’s home was submerged underwater, and other houses on his street were submerged underwater during the storm of Hurricane Helen.
Both renters were at home when Helene hit the neighborhood. John Thompson, a disabled veteran who lives in a duplex apartment, said it was his dream home.
Thompson said his previous growth was rough and he handled a lot of trauma Helen’s flood fluttered His front door.
“I walked out of the back door and literally slid down the back porch, and then I heard some beats, turned around and she beats on the window, just bangin’.”
Even though she had never seen her, Thompson felt the need to help her neighbors.
After Helene, WNC River City reopens to tourists
Eventually, he had his neighbor live in the duplex apartment next door, himself on the roof. Soon after, Thompson jumped into the angry river for help, fearing that the house he was standing would be washed away.
Thompson and his neighbors survived.
“So he saved the life of this woman. John Thompson, he was a hero, and he would love to go back so we would be happy to recover and run so that he could move back.”
Floriani and volunteers are working on humidity and heat to rebuild the house.
Valley Hope Church said they had volunteers line up every week until September.
At Beacon Village, you will find dozens of volunteers working – focusing on rebuilding the community.
It’s better to bring volunteers to one of the many organizations nearby, a coalition to help homeowners get back on their feet.
“I know the Valley hopes the church will be able to do more than 150 home repairs,” said Lindsey Barnett, director of relief and recovery at Valley Hope. “And we have completely rebuilt 2 houses from the studs and we are able to move these families back.”
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Barnett said they will still receive requests from volunteers to help people rebuild, adding, “They now have volunteers every week until September.”
Valley Hope Church and other nonprofits are helping people return home after destroying them.
Floriani said he was surprised by the help of Americans across the country.
“They just want to help, no problem, it’s really inspiring for me, … it’s profound for me,” he said.
Funds are also being raised near Beacon Village to help neighbors move back home through its Save Beacon Village website.
Valley Hope Church said they were able to help rebuild 150 damaged homes in Helene.
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The state Department of Commerce said that as of July 1, the single-family housing plan to renew NC had received 348 applications.
“The program has been open for applications for only a few weeks (since June 16), and all applications must be reviewed and property checked to ensure we comply with federal requirements for the HUD grant. We hope to start construction on the first homes later this summer.”
Mission Sheds is 501C3, already Western North Carolina area. These sheds are 8 feet by 10 feet and are filled with food, clothing and life essentials.
Four days after the EF-4 tornado hit London, Kentucky, Mission Sheds founder Ed Johnson made a call to build and deliver homes in the area. This is the first of eight trips to the nonprofit that will be taking the shed.
Founder Ed Johnson said he felt God’s appeal to start the mission shed after Helene.
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Volunteers have filed applications from around the world and continue to help them pass the mission, Johnson said.
Businesses like Best Buy Metals have donated enough metal to Johnson’s mission to 80 sheds.
