Highlights ongoing Helene recovery efforts in WNC
Jaren Gragg
MNJ Contributor
Gov. Josh Stein visited Bakersville to observe recovery efforts underway following the impact of Hurricane Helene (downgraded to a tropical storm) in Mitchell County Thursday.
During his visit, Stein met with volunteers, emergency personnel, Bakersville Mayor Charles Vines, and members of the town council. He also toured an active construction site led by the Appalachia Service Project, highlighting one of the many ongoing recovery projects across Western North Carolina and other areas affected by Helene.
While at the worksite, Stein spoke with Melisa Winburn, the organization’s CEO. Stein toured the site and placed a block into the foundation, symbolizing that recovery is built one step at a time.
Stein also held a press conference at the site, addressing ongoing relief and recovery efforts across Western North Carolina.
Winburn stated that Helene “literally changed the landscape” in Western North Carolina and noted that, despite the progress made, the region still faces a long road to recovery. She said the Appalachia Service Project aims to be a “conduit for good.”
Winburn said that ASP has committed to repairing or rebuilding 200 homes across Western North Carolina and surrounding areas. The organization broke ground in North Carolina on March 29, 2025, and has since completed 10 new homes and one critical repair across Western North Carolina.
“We wanted to be the type of organization that can respond to any need that happens in our service area because of a disaster,” Winburn said.
She noted the resiliency of both volunteers and community members while emphasizing that the work cannot be done alone. Winburn said she is grateful for the partnership with the state, which has helped support ongoing recovery projects.
“Communities across Western North Carolina have shown incredible resilience in the wake of Hurricane Helene,” Winburn said. “The State of North Carolina’s support is already making a meaningful difference, helping more families access the safe, stable housing they need to move forward. We’re grateful for the state’s continued commitment and for the many partners who make this work possible, and we look forward to the progress still ahead.”
During the press conference, Stein took to the podium and called on the North Carolina General Assembly to approve a third round of funding to support ongoing Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. He emphasized that while progress has been made over the past 18 months, the recovery effort is far from over.
Stein stated that there remains a tremendous need for support across Western North Carolina and the region, including continued assistance for local small businesses, bringing tourism back to the area, and helping families that were impacted by the storm. He also recognized T.W. Randall, who has worked with the Mitchell County Long-Term Recovery Group and, despite facing his own challenges during the flooding, “has been working hard to help other people overcome their own.”
“Western North Carolinians are still working every day for their own recovery. Let’s match their grit and meet them with the urgency they deserve,” Stein said. “I am proud to have worked together with the General Assembly to pass more than $1 billion in state disaster recovery aid. Now, it’s time for the next phase of recovery: rebuilding for the long haul.”
Stein concluded that while significant progress has been made through collective effort, the work is not finished. He emphasized the need to continue investing in the people and communities of Western North Carolina and thanked the General Assembly for its support, adding that now is not the time to “take the foot off the gas.”