Full Notification

Dear McDowell County Community,

Nearly one year ago, Hurricane Helene barreled through McDowell County, leaving behind devastation unlike anything our county had ever seen. As we mark the upcoming anniversary of Helene, we take a moment to remember, reflect, and reaffirm our commitment to fully recovering from this historic storm.

First and foremost, we honor the lives lost due to Hurricane Helene. Our hearts and prayers continue to go out to the family members, friends, and neighbors of the residents we lost during Helene.

This past year has been difficult — but it has also revealed the heart, strength, and resilience of our community. Together, we’ve made remarkable progress:

• Nearly 500 homes have been repaired thanks to the tireless efforts of our nonprofit organizations and dedicated volunteers from across the United States.
• Nearly thirty new home rebuilds are being planned, offering hope and stability for families still displaced.
• Recovery continues for local businesses, and new ones are in development.
• Over 1.3 million cubic yards of debris have been cleared from roads and waterways—an enormous effort that has made our communities safer and more accessible.
• More than 1,200 properties have received direct debris removal, allowing homeowners to take meaningful steps toward restoration. This important work continues with over 200 more properties pending.  

These numbers are more than statistics—they represent lives changed, hope restored, and a community that refuses to give up.

There is still lots of work ahead. We know many of our citizens still need assistance recovering. Recovery from a storm of this magnitude will continue to take time. But our team refuses to give up. We remain laser focused on ensuring a full recovery within each community here in McDowell County.  From Crooked Creek to Graphite, Curtis Creek to Buck Creek, and Little Switzerland to North Cove, Nebo, Sugar Hill, Marion, and all points in between — we continue working in every community each day to recover from this storm. Whether it's local volunteers, national partners, or neighbors lending a hand, the spirit of McDowell County remains strong.  

As your Director of Emergency Services, I thank each one of you who has contributed your time, resources, and heart to this recovery. I encourage you to keep going. Keep reaching out. Keep lifting one another up. We’ve already proven what we can accomplish by working together as One Team - One Mission – One Community.

We’re not just recovering—we’re rebuilding stronger, safer, and more united than ever before.

With gratitude and determination,

Will Kehler
Emergency Services Director
McDowell County, North Carolina