Miles-MCClellan Team Reflects on Hurricane Helene Recovery Effort

As communities across Western North Carolina mark two years since Hurricane Helene, the Miles-McClellan team is reflecting on its response to one of the region’s most devastating storms. For the Charlotte team, the best way to help was to show up.

What began as a donation drive quickly grew into a hands-on relief effort. A team of 15 employees gathered food, heavy tools, tents, heaters and other essential supplies, filling more than seven vehicles before making the trip into some of the hardest-hit areas, including Spruce Pine and Bakersville.

Once there, the team worked alongside local residents to help clear downed trees, restore access to homes and provide support wherever it was needed. The work was physical and at times difficult, but the goal was to help communities begin moving forward.

The team stayed in a field next to a local crisis center, where they spent cold nights together after long days of work. Between shifts, they sang, played cards and shared stories, finding moments of connection while processing the realities of the devastation around them.

Among the many people the team encountered was a woman trapped in her home by fallen trees and downed power lines. The team helped clear her property, allowing her to safely walk her dog and regain access to her pottery studio.

What began as a simple act of assistance became a lasting friendship. In the months that followed, the woman sent the team hand-drawn thank-you cards and pottery pieces that remain meaningful reminders of the connection made through the experience.

While the immediate response helped address some of the physical damage left by Hurricane Helene, communities across Western North Carolina continue to recover from the storm two years later.

For the Miles-McClellan team, the experience reinforced the importance of responding to community needs with action, particularly when that means stepping outside the traditional scope of work and lending a hand where it is needed most.

As we reflect on the anniversary of Hurricane Helene, we are grateful for the communities that welcomed our team, the people who worked alongside us and everyone who continues to support North Carolina’s recovery.