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Volunteers still rebuilding 1 year after Helene

By Lilla Marigza
Sept. 24, 2025 | SPRUCE PINE, N.C. (UM News)

Members of Floris United Methodist Church help Barbara Douglas remove debris from her home in Spruce Pine, N.C., following Hurricane Helene. Video by Lilla Marigza, UM News.

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.

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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.

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