Latest news with #RebuildingHollers
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
High school students give Hurricane Helene survivor fresh start by building her new home
BURNSVILLE, N.C.– A North Carolina woman who lost her house in Hurricane Helene nearly eight months ago is finally getting a new place to call home. Sherry Housley said Friday during an interview with FOX Weather that she is doing well. "I am phasing out of the fight or flight mode," Housley said. Housley has been living in an RV since the hurricane destroyed her home. "I'm just counting the moments for my little house," she said. A group of high school students partnered with a nonprofit called Rebuilding Hollers, and together, they are building a tiny house for Housley. She said she got a call from Stephanie Johnson, the founder of Rebuilding Hollers, who told her she would be getting a house, and the first one. "I was just blown away," Housley said. "I thought I was going to live in an RV for the rest of my life." Housley said she struggles to come up with words to express how she's feeling, knowing she'll have a real home again. "What they're doing is just beyond anything I've ever experienced in my life as far as someone coming to my rescue," she said. Florida Mother, Daughters Give Dolls To Girls Affected By Helene To 'Rebuild A Childhood' Housley evacuated her home during Helene. She and her family had gotten several warnings that it was going to be bad, and she knew she couldn't stay. She went to stay with her sister who lived nearby. She said she was stranded there for a week. "I walked the 3.5 miles off the mountain, and came and saw that my little house was gone," Housley said. Beryl, Helene, Milton Retired From Atlantic Hurricane Naming List After Their Historic Impacts She said her home and studio were destroyed. "Everything you can imagine was picked up and churned inside my workspace," Housley said. The tiny house is being built at the school, and will be moved to where her home used to be. How To Watch Fox Weather Housley said she was born and raised on the property she lived on. She inherited it from her parents. "To be able to rise back up here, at my roots, in my beautiful mountains … I am part of these mountains," she said. Despite the mud and debris still left behind, Housley said she couldn't imagine living anywhere but her property. "I can see beauty here already," she said. "It's already blooming, and things are greening up." Housley said she's excited to get into her new home and start planting, too. Her tiny house is expected to be completed and moved by the end of article source: High school students give Hurricane Helene survivor fresh start by building her new home
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rebuilding Hollers supports Helene victims in western North Carolina
BURNSVILLE, NC (WGHP) — In a two-story building, saved from the flood waters of Hurricane Helene, is a refuge for some and a place of hope for others. According to volunteer Karen Sayre, 'I have seen such goodness through this I mean it's just it's phenomenal the people here and the volunteers the neighbors.' North Carolina students building tiny home for Helene victim She has been with Rebuilding Hollers Foundation since it started in a parking lot in the days after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Yancey and Mitchell Counties. Stephanie Johnson, a local realtor, knew something had to be done, so she organized a donation drive where people could come and get items they needed to live. She added, 'There's been nothing like it. And I tell you what, the people here are so humble and so grateful and you try and give them something. Their first responses. No. Give it to my neighbor. Don't give me too much, they need it more than I do.' They called it Rebuilding Hollers because so many of the Hollers in both Mitchell and Yancey counties were wiped out. Volunteer Jenny McFarland knows the importance of hollers all too well. 'A lot of it is family. Usually when you're in the hollers, that's usually what you have is just, you know, your family is surrounding you,' McFarland said. 'I live on the Creek. I've got a river on one side and a Creek that runs up the other side. So it's just back off in the boonies is what I call it.' When they could, they moved into this building to better serve those who needed help. Sayre says, 'People show up with donations all the time.' Everything from food and housing supplies to building supplies which they keep outdoors. They do their best to get flood victims what they need. And it's all done anonymously. It's a members-only club but there's no membership fee. According to Sayre, 'If you're a resident of Yancey or Mitchell County, then you can be a member. And if you've had damage from Helene and just come in, fill out a very simple basic form copy of your driver's license and then sit down with one of us. Let us know what your needs are, what's been done, what needs to be done, what kind of supplies. And then we work to get it, get it done for you.' The privacy of those receiving help is of utmost importance. 'Everything's identified by number. Our projects all have numbers and that's the only we don't know who those projects belong to? And yeah, it's all about privacy. They they've been through enough,' says Sayre. They stay busy with almost 400 ongoing projects and more being added every day. The volunteers say that tells you the need is still great. But so are the hearts of those both giving and receiving. Says Sayre, there is 'so much good. It's been very fulfilling and we're in it for the long haul here.' They have also renovated and furnished two apartments upstairs where people who are currently living in a shed, camper, or even tent can come for a break. They are completely furnished with a washer and dryer, kitchen and a nice bed where Helene victims can truly relax. Plus, they work with the student carpenters at Mountain Heritage High School who are building tiny homes for those who lost everything in the storm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Asheville Rising: How to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene
Six months after Hurricane Helene left widespread destruction across the Southeast, "Good Morning America" returned to one of the hardest-hit communities, Asheville, North Carolina. Robin Roberts, Ginger Zee and Sam Champion reported live from Asheville on Thursday, focusing on how the community is rebuilding and where the greatest needs remain for additional support. Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region on Sept. 26 as a massive Category 4 hurricane. In the Asheville area, the storm caused historic flooding that devastated roads, bridges and structures. Helene also caused extensive damage to Asheville's water treatment infrastructure, according to the National Hurricane Center. Clean water was not restored to the city until Nov. 18, 53 days after Helene hit. While in Asheville, "GMA" announced $3 million in donations to the community from corporate sponsors including Lowe's, Food Lion, Samsung, BetterHelp, Bojangles, Red Ventures, Armstrong Flooring, 84 Lumber, Family Dollar, Honeywell, Starbucks and Hanes. Local heroes, volunteers help mobilize relief efforts in communities after Hurricane Helene In addition, "GMA" put a spotlight on local organizations that are stepping up to help those in need and how individual people across the country can also contribute. For example, one featured organization, Love Asheville From Afar, is helping support local businesses by curating their online stores so people can "shop local" from afar. These organizations are directly serving communities in and around Asheville that were impacted by Hurricane Helene: BeLoved Asheville River Arts District Foundation Rebuilding Hollers Global Empowerment Mission Below, read about each organization and find links for more information. BeLoved Asheville is a local community-based nonprofit organization focused on "providing assistance to the underprivileged and underserved people of Asheville," according to its website. The organization provides food, housing, and medical and mental health care, as well involvement with the arts and support groups. Click here to learn more. The River Arts District Foundation provides support for the River Arts District, an artistic hub comprising more than 250 artists and 26 buildings in Asheville. Located along the French Broad River, the area experienced historic flooding during Helene. In addition to helping the arts district rebuild, the River Arts District Foundation provides scholarship opportunities and technical assistance programs for artists. Click here to learn more. How country singer Eric Church is helping his home state, North Carolina, after Hurricane Helene Rebuilding Hollers is a community-based nonprofit organization "committed to restoring the homes, businesses, farms, and lives of their neighbors in Yancey and Mitchell Counties," after the devastation of Hurricane Helene, according to its website. The organization was founded by a local resident after Helene caused hundreds of landslides in the area and led to the destruction of thousands of local homes and buildings. Click here to learn more. Global Empowerment Mission is a nonprofit organization that has responded to over 370 disaster relief missions in 69 countries and all 50 states since its founding in 2010, according to its website. Following Hurricane Helene, GEM deployed to Asheville, where it has been providing food, water, hygiene supplies, cleaning materials, tarps, pet supplies and more. Click here to learn more. Asheville Rising: How to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene originally appeared on
