33 Days after Helene: Salvation Army Service Continues in North Carolina

Asheville, NC (October 30, 2024) --Thirty-three days after Hurricane Helene, The Salvation Army is serving throughout the mountains of North Carolina, providing hot meals, cold drinks, and emotional and spiritual support in communities affected by the storm. Pensacola, North Carolina, a small town of 500 residents nestled in a valley within Pisgah National Forest, is one of the communities The Salvation Army has been serving.

On a typical day in Pensacola, Cattail Creek gently flows down the mountainside into town, while the Cane River meanders alongside Highway 197, the main road that leads into town. September 27 – the day that Hurricane Helene made her run through six states - was far from a typical day.

The ground was already saturated by heavy rain that began several days before Helene. Then torrential rainfall from the remnants of Helene passed through, causing catastrophic flooding and landslides. A wall of water from Cattail Creek roared down the mountain and slammed into the town. The Cane River swelled, overflowed its banks, and swelled again. The rushing water swept Highway 197 and its roadbed 30 yards off course, folded like a ribbon on the ground.

The entire infrastructure of Pensacola was left in ruins, and it would be months before power would be restored.

“It took one day for the town to be destroyed, and it will take years to rebuild. But, before the roads can be paved, the road structure must be rebuilt. Before the power poles can be set, the roads must be paved. Before power lines can be strung, the poles must be set. One step in rebuilding must be completed before the next can begin,” said Captain Tim Scott, Salvation Army officer serving in Pensacola.

The Salvation Army’s mobile feeding units began serving food, cold drinks, and coffee in the area, and emotional and spiritual care teams were present to listen and support people affected by the disaster.

It’s often the small things you miss after the unthinkable—the comfort of a cup of hot coffee, warm, nourishing food, and someone to listen as you unpack your losses. Pensacola is just one of many communities devastated in the mountains of North Carolina. In times like this, The Salvation Army comes alongside communities to provide support and connection to people as they heal.