Volunteers still rebuilding 1 year after Helene

One year ago, Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction across the southeastern U.S., leaving 250 people dead. The storm caused a flood surge in Florida, and went on to spur tornadoes, landslides, flooding and other severe weather events in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina.

UM News traveled to Western North Carolina in the weeks following Helene to talk to United Methodist volunteers who were helping homeowners. Lilla Marigza spoke with some of those same volunteers who remain active in recovery efforts today.

Watch video

The Rev. Gina Anderson-Cloud of Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, Va., prays over church members preparing for a Volunteers in Mission trip to help those affected by Hurricane Helene. Photo courtesy of Floris United Methodist Church.
The Rev. Gina Anderson-Cloud of Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, Va., prays over church members preparing for a Volunteers in Mission trip to help those affected by Hurricane Helene. Photo courtesy of Floris United Methodist Church.

Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, Virginia, has a page with updates on the team’s work helping those affected by Hurricane Helene. You also can find information on United Methodist Volunteers in Mission training, and how to join the Floris UMVIM team on a future project.

The Western North Carolina Conference will collect a special offering on Sunday, Sept. 28, to mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene. The conference maintains a page with up-to-date information on Helene recovery efforts.

Marigza is a multimedia producer for UM News. Contact her at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umnews.org. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free UM News Digest.

Sign up for our newsletter!

Subscribe Now
Social Concerns
Danny Fisher selects some canned goods at the Rhea House, a free grocery store in Tennessee operated by United Methodist Reelfoot Rural Ministries and Dyersburg First United Methodist Church. Video image by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

Food pantry digs deeper to overcome challenging year

The Rhea House free grocery store, a partnership between Dyersburg First United Methodist Church and United Methodist Reelfoot Rural Ministries, counts its blessings.
Faith Sharing
Image by Andreas Böhm from Pixabay; graphic by Laurens Glass

Social media graphics from UM News

Graphic for the First Sunday in Advent available to download and share on social media.
Connectional Table
Bishop Ruby-Nell Estrella of the Manila Episcopal Area shares her excitement on the Connectional Table’s October meeting being held in the Philippines. Screengrab by Matthan Bang-asan, United Methodist Communications, via YouTube by UM News.

Connectional Table lives into new vision at Philippines gathering

The October meeting provided a time for fellowship as a worldwide community and space to celebrate and discern the denomination’s new vision.

United Methodist Communications is an agency of The United Methodist Church

©2025 United Methodist Communications. All Rights Reserved