Landslides Challenge Hurricane Helene Recovery

Nearly sixteen months after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, state officials say rebuilding will take years, with landslides now recognized as one of the storm’s most dangerous and lasting impacts.

Landslide and debris-flow maps updated on Jan. 11 from the U.S. Geological Survey, reviewed by WCAB News, show that the Chimney Rock home of Rudy and Catrina “Cat” Romero was struck by trees carried downslope during a rainfall-triggered landslide on Sept. 27, 2024. The slope failure occurred above the property during extreme rainfall, sending debris into the structure as floodwaters surged nearby.

Inside were the Romeros, their infant daughter, toddler son, and their dog. The family says they felt the house lift and shift. Vehicles were pushed into the home, one tore through a wall. Exits were blocked by fallen trees. After escaping uphill, Rudy Romero broke his foot jumping from a deck to reach higher ground. The next day, carrying their children, the family walked to the Chimney Rock Fire Department for help. Their home was destroyed, everything they owned was lost, and their dog, River, was missing.

Prolonged power and communications outages delayed awareness of stories like the Romeros’. In a message shared afterward, Cat Romero wrote that while possessions could be replaced, “the feeling of losing home is so painful,” adding the family was “so blessed to be alive.”

River was later found alive in the rubble by a passerby and reunited with the family after shelter care.

State officials: recovery will take years

At a Jan. 9 meeting of the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina held at Isothermal Community College, officials outlined ongoing challenges more than 15 months after the storm.

“This is a multi-year effort,” said Josh Stein.

Officials reported about 15.5 million cubic yards of storm debris removed, calling debris cleanup one of the most advanced parts of recovery. But damage to private roads and bridges—many undermined by landslides—remains a major obstacle. Nearly 7,000 applications have been submitted for a state reimbursement program capped at $25 million, meaning not all eligible claims can be funded.

Federal delays also continue. Stein said North Carolina has received less than 12% of expected federal disaster funds about 16 months after Helene, compared with 40–50% within a year for past major hurricanes.

Steve Garrison, Rutherford County manager, who's exiting the role on Feb. 3, will now be tasked with "unsticking issues" in 12 counties, the governor said. No replacement has been named as of this report, leaving many unanswered questions. An after-action report made many recommendations statewide.

Landslides: scale and risk

State officials report Helene triggered more than 2,000 landslides—more than the previous two decades combined. According to available state data, landslides caused 31 of the storm’s 108 deaths, and about 75% affected a road, structure, or river. Most occurred where rainfall exceeded 10 inches.

Mapping and monitoring efforts are expanding, but staffing and funding remain limited.

The Romeros now live in a Habitat for Humanity home in Spindale. Public records indicate that they still own their Chimney Rock property, where their former home once stood near the Esmeralda Inn on Main St. The inn still stands and has housed recovery workers since the storm.

Their story reflects a broader reality across the mountains: Helene’s damage—especially from landslides—continues.