[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 153 (Thursday, September 18, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6711-S6712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                One-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Helene

  Mr. BUDD. Mr. President, I rise today in remembrance of the 1-year 
anniversary of Hurricane Helene, a disaster of unprecedented magnitude 
that devastated North Carolina's Appalachian Mountains.
  On the evening of September 26, 2024, this historic storm struck the 
Blue Ridge Mountains, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake, 
putting the livelihoods of thousands of North Carolinians on hold, and 
shattering many communities.
  As we approach this solemn anniversary, I want to reflect on the 
lives that Hurricane Helene took with her. One hundred eight lives were 
tragically lost in this disaster, leaving their families grieving. To 
this day, five individuals remain unaccounted for, leaving their loved 
ones without answers.
  In their loss, we are reminded of the comfort and hope found in the 
23rd Psalm:

       Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of 
     death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.

  God has been with us in grief, and he is now with us in recovery.
  But when I look back on this past year, what is most visible is not 
destruction; it is resilience: neighbors helping neighbors, communities 
coming together, and the people of the Appalachian Mountains leaning on 
faith and hope and determination to carry us through the aftermath of 
the storm.
  A year ago, when Helene first hit, there was no way in or out of the 
mountains. When I was able to get through, I was in contact with 
numerous local leaders who tried to describe what was happening on the 
ground. I saw the impact firsthand thanks to North Carolina agriculture 
commissioner Steve Troxler when we surveyed the devastation together in 
a forestry helicopter. Shortly thereafter, I made the first of many on-
the-ground visits to the affected towns.
  What I quickly saw was the tremendous work being done by Samaritan's 
Purse and Baptists on Mission, along with many other faith- and 
community-based organizations and nonprofits that stepped up to help. 
Companies like Lowe's, Walmart, AT&T, Verizon, and many more stepped up 
significantly in contributing funds and resources to support rebuilding 
efforts.
  I spoke to local heroes--our first responders--some of whom had not 
been home in days and were left unsure of the status of their own homes 
and families. In Fairview, two landslides claimed the lives of 11 
members of the Craig family, and they had lived on that land for over a 
century. I embraced residents as they wept--shaken by their 
unimaginable loss--as they were left to navigate the uncertainty of 
just how to move forward. But what struck me the most was the 
willingness of ordinary people to step up with extraordinary courage 
and put themselves at risk to save a life.
  In Spruce Pine, Eddie Hunnell jumped into rushing waters to save a 
stranger whose home was being washed away.
  Junior Singleton--75 years old from Avery County--woke up to water in 
his basement that was rising quickly. As neighbors gathered at his home 
on high ground, he recognized someone was missing. He waded through the 
floodwaters to get his neighbors out of their home and safely to higher 
ground.
  Medics in Mitchell County, during the shelter-in-place order, 
responded to a teen boy experiencing a seizure. They had to cut their 
way through downed trees to reach the boy's home and deliver lifesaving 
care.
  In Yancey County, Mountain Heritage High School students are 
partnering with Rebuilding Hollers to build tiny homes for Hurricane 
Helene survivors. Their work restores not just shelter but the hope 
that people can begin to rebuild their lives.
  In Madison County, the catastrophic flooding in Hot Springs--home to 
just 520 people--gave rise to the Rebuild Hot Springs Area 
organization. Together, this small town and its neighbors have raised 
hundreds of thousands of dollars to help families return home and 
businesses to reopen. Though challenges remain, on May 2, the town 
officially reopened its doors to welcome visitors once again.
  In Henderson County, chief Steve Freeman led Bat Cave's volunteer 
fire department through Helene by urging evacuations, coordinating 
rescues, and conducting welfare checks for weeks without any power. He 
expanded his crew, patrolled the rivers daily, and built a spirit of 
unity, helping neighbors endure and rebuild together.
  In Chimney Rock, which was one of the hardest hit towns, manager 
Stephen Duncan and mayor Peter O'Leary are charting a path forward. 
With nonprofits like Spokes of Hope, the Great Needs Trust, and Amish 
partners from Pennsylvania, the community is rebuilding Main Street 
with reclaimed wood and donated supplies, restoring not only buildings 
but a sense of hope.
  Large sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway are now back open. The 
parkway serves as a lifeline to the travel and tourism industry in 
Western North Carolina, and it is the foundation of the small business 
economy. Work is ongoing on the most damaged sections of the parkway, 
and those stretches are slated to reopen next year.
  Now, while we have seen some successes as folks work to return to 
normal, there is still a lot of work to do to make sure Western North 
Carolina is stronger than it was before those fateful days. As we 
shifted from response to recovery, communities spent millions of 
dollars of their own to clean up and rebuild with the promise of 
Federal reimbursement. They have been met with unnecessary bureaucratic 
gridlock as the Federal Government reviews grant applications and slow-
pay funds.
  I have talked to local officials about how the slow pace of 
reimbursements was putting a strain on their general budgets that are 
still reeling from the economic impacts of lost tourism and businesses 
that never reopened. I have continued to fight to make sure our 
communities have the support that they need from their Federal 
Government to get these critical reimbursement checks signed and out 
the door for the people of Western North Carolina.
  As we approach the 1-year anniversary of the most expensive and 
deadly natural disaster in North Carolina's history, we have much work 
still to do. The backlog is too long. There are still tarps on homes. 
Roads and bridges remain unbuilt. Needs are great, and help is just too 
slow. But we are finally starting to reduce the backlog of projects 
awaiting Federal reimbursement. President Trump and I know that the 
needs are still urgent, and we are working together to get Western 
North Carolinians the help that they need.

[[Page S6712]]

  We couldn't have come this far without the local leaders who have 
shouldered the weight of the crisis and guided their communities toward 
recovery. I want to thank all of the county commissioners and mayors, 
county and town managers, and local emergency management directors in 
all of the impacted counties who have stood on the frontlines of this 
disaster, never once faltering in their commitment to serve.
  To the firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical 
personnel, churches, and volunteers who answered the call in our 
darkest hours, thank you. Your courage saved lives, and your sacrifice 
gave us strength.
  To the people of Western North Carolina--those who have borne the 
brunt of this disaster--it is because of your resilience that homes are 
being rebuilt for families to continue making memories; that students 
are returning to classrooms and are determined to keep learning; and 
that small business owners are reopening their doors against all odds.
  It is your unyielding spirit that has inspired all of us throughout 
North Carolina and across the Nation. I will continue to speak up for 
you in the U.S. Senate and know that your loss will never be forgotten.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Hagerty). The Senator from New Hampshire.

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