One year after Hurricane Helene, CORE is still on the ground supporting families who lost everything to the devastating storm. What began in North Carolina has grown into a powerful, regional rebuilding and recovery effort spanning Georgia and, now, Tennessee.
When Hurricane Helene struck the southeastern U.S. in September 2024, it didn’t just destroy homes; it upended lives. In addition to tragic loss of life, the Category 4 hurricane caused catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, extended power outages, and, in some places, unprecedented destruction. Countless families were left without basic resources and a safe place to live. Entire communities on its 500-mile path, from Florida to North Carolina, were forever changed.
But the story doesn’t end there.
Over the past 12 months, community members, volunteers, and organizations like CORE have worked tirelessly to rebuild what was lost and strengthen communities for whatever lies ahead. Read below to learn more about the rebuilding journey and the incredible work we’ve accomplished in the last year.
Thanks to the support of our incredible partners, volunteers, and community members, CORE has sustained a long-term recovery program to bring families back home.
What began with emergency meal distributions and community resource meetups in western North Carolina quickly evolved into a long-term recovery program. CORE formed a local team to lead efforts in Swannanoa, which became known regionally as ‘ground zero’ after the Swannanoa River swelled a historic 27 feet and flooded nearly every home in its wake. We settled in the Alan Campos mobile home community, where, for many residents, rebuilding seemed out of reach. In March, CORE proudly welcomed 25 families back into fully rehabilitated, storm-resilient homes – a powerful milestone in their recovery.
Among them was Dulce, a mother of three, who lost everything to the floods. Reflecting on her return, Dulce shared: “[My home] was all damaged. It was all covered in mold. Compared to now. Well, that’s everything. For me, it’s everything. My emotional stability, the stability of my children. Practically everything.”
Today, our team is working in Buncombe and Henderson Counties, replicating this critical program to help more families take this vital step toward recovery.
Dulce and her family lost everything to the storm, including precious family photos and belongings.
Hurricane Helene was the third storm in 13 months to hit Valdosta, Georgia. In the immediate aftermath, CORE deployed teams to tarp roofs of damaged mobile homes and conducted wellness checks to support vulnerable neighbors, many of whom are elderly, low income and without insurance, and managing chronic illnesses.
However, months later, many homes still bear the damage of Helene and the other back-to-back storms, from residual mold and leaky roofs to hazardous debris.
Now, one year on, CORE has teamed up with American Red Cross to repair roofs in the most vulnerable neighborhoods, helping families mitigate future hazards and begin to feel safe again in their own homes.
Reverend McCoggle’s home in Valdosta, Georgia, needed temporary roofing and major repairs after a tree split his home in two.
CORE is preparing to launch a pilot Mobile Home Repair and Rebuild Program in Carter County, Eastern Tennessee, one of the region’s most underserved rural communities, where hundreds of families still need critical home repairs.
Elevating mobile homes is one way to build resilience within marginalized communities and disrupt patterns of displacement.
CORE has always been steadfast in our mission to help families emerge from disaster stronger, safer, and more prepared for what’s ahead. Across the Carolinas, Georgia, and Tennessee, families continue to face repeated storms like Hurricane Helene, leaving them with limited time and resources to fully recover.
Long-term recovery programs like these help ensure families stay safe, rooted, and resilient in the face of future disasters. To support and learn more about our Home Rebuild Program, visit our Hurricane Helene landing page.