A brown fog of dust and dirt billowed through Old Fort, N.C., as Amy Davis served chicken and dumplings to every person who wearily climbed the steps of her country store.
Skylar Wright, 9, and her mom, Monnie, retrieve Skylar’s bike in Old Fort on Wednesday. Her bike was washed hundreds of yards from their home during the flooding of Hurricane Helene.
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Amy Davis, owner of The Davis Country Store & Cafe in Old Fort, cooks fajita meat for firefighters working across the street from her store on Wednesday. She and a number of volunteers are cooking hot meals for the many local residents still without power, the first responders working the region and the workers and volunteers who have come to aid in the cleanup.
One of many convoys of emergency supplies, excavation equipment and ATVs arrive in Old Fort on Wednesday.
Belinda Wright, right, gets a hug from Emily Rowland as they talk near their damaged homes in Old Fort on Wednesday. “I lost everything,” Wright told Rowland. “I was able to save some pictures, my mother’s ashes and my granddaughter’s ashes. How do you start over from this?”
Volunteers assemble food boxes and health care items at the Columbia Forest Products warehouse in Old Fort, one of a handful of distribution centers set up across McDowell County to help victims of Hurricane Helene.
Marques Franklin, foreground, and Mauricio Monjares squeegee floodwaters from Hurricane Helene from a storage room deep inside Hillman Beer in Old Fort on Wednesday.
A woman carries groceries down Catawba Avenue in Old Fort past piles of mud from Hurricane Helene flooding that was scraped from the road.
Lisa Hines, an artist and vice president of the board at Arrowhead Artists & Artisans League, works to salvage whatever pieces of art and workshop supplies she can from the league's gallery on Catawba Avenue in Old Fort as the town recovers from flooding of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday.
Floodwaters rose to 46 inches inside Steven McAnally's Old Fort home during Hurricane Helene.
PHOTOS: Old Fort, McDowell County destruction and recovery from Hurricane Helene
Old Fort Helene
A house that was destroyed by floodwaters of Hurricane Helene sits on the bank of Mill Creek in Old Fort on Wednesday.
Old Fort Helene
Cars and debris that was washed down Mill Creek during Hurricane Helene flooding was near the Catawba Avenue bridge in Old Fort.
Old Fort Helene
A storage shed came to rest on top of a car in the flood waters of Hurricane Helene in Old Fort, as seen on Wednesday.
Old Fort Helene
A storage shed came to rest on top of a car in the flood waters of Hurricane Helene in Old Fort, as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Old Fort Helene
Belinda Wright, right, gets a hug from Emily Rowland as they talk near their damaged homes in Old Fort on Wednesday. “I lost everything,” Wright told Rowland. “I was able to save some pictures, my mother’s ashes and my granddaughter’s ashes. How do you start over from this?”
Old Fort Helene
Skylar Wright, 9, and her mom, Monnie, retrieve Skylar’s bike in Old Fort on Wednesday. Her bike was washed hundreds of yards from their home during the flooding of Hurricane Helene.
Old Fort Helene
Debris that was washed down Mill Creek during Hurricane Helene flooding was deposited against and near an interpretive panel on climate change in the park at Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort. The panel was erected by NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources prior to the hurricane.
Old Fort Helene
One of many convoys of emergency supplies, excavation equipment and ATVs arrive in Old Fort on Wednesday.
Old Fort Helene
Marques Franklin, foreground, and Mauricio Monjares squeegee floodwaters from Hurricane Helene from a storage room deep inside Hillman Beer in Old Fort on Wednesday.
Old Fort Helene
Mauricio Monjares squeegees flood waters from Hurricane Helene from a storage room deep inside Hillman Beer in Old Fort on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Old Fort Helene
A woman carries groceries down Catawba Avenue in Old Fort past piles of mud from Hurricane Helene flooding that was scraped from the road.
Old Fort Helene
Lisa Hines, an artist and vice president of the board at Arrowhead Artists & Artisans League, works to salvage whatever pieces of art and workshop supplies she can from the league's gallery on Catawba Avenue in Old Fort as the town recovers from flooding of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday.
Old Fort Helene
Mud and debris were swept in to the yard of Emily Rowland during the flooding from Hurricane Helene, as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. Rowland had to evacuate her home to the elementary school where she teaches to escape the flood waters.
Old Fort Helene
Mud and debris surround vehicles and campers that were moved during the flooding from Hurricane Helene in Old Fort, as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Old Fort Helene
Victor Noguez shoves mud and flood waters from Hurricane Helene from the tank room inside Hillman Beer in Old Fort on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Old Fort Helene
Debris that was washed down Mill Creek during Hurricane Helene flooding was pinned against the I-40 bridge in Old Fort.
Old Fort Helene
LuAnn Ellsworth (left) and Gail Gill work to salvage what art they can from the gallery at Arrowhead Artists & Artisans League, on Catawba Avenue in Old Fort as the town recovers from flooding of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Old Fort Helene
Debris that was washed down Mill Creek during Hurricane Helene flooding was pinned against the I-40 bridge in Old Fort.
Old Fort Helene
A trailer that was swept away in the flood waters of Hurricane Helene came to rest against a utility pole in Old Fort.
Old Fort Helene
Coasters from the tap room at Hillman Beer in Old Fort sit on the floor next to piles of mud from flooding of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2024.
Old Fort Helene
Vehicles create a cloud of dust on Catawba Avenue, the road that connects I-40 with Main Street in Old Fort as the town cleans up from flooding of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Vehicles create a cloud of dust as they pass on Catawba Avenue, the road that connects I-40 with Main Street in Old Fort on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Part of Catawba Avenue, the road that connects I-40 with Main Street in Old Fort, was washed away by flood waters of Hurricane Helene, as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Vehicles create a cloud of dust on Catawba Avenue, the road that connects I-40 with Main Street in Old Fort as the town cleans up from flooding of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
An antique car is caked with mud from flood waters in the tap room at Hillman Beer in Old Fort on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Old Fort Helene
Michael Whitney tries to smash down items in a dumpster placed outside business on Catawba Avenue in Old Fort as the town cleans up from Hurricane Helene flooding on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Old Fort Helene
Steven and Matt McAnally pull an antique secretary from the home of their cousin, Steven's house in Old Fort as the town continues to clean up after flooding of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. The high water mark inside McAnally's house was 46 inches.
Old Fort Helene
Steven McAnally (from left) look through an antique secretary with his cousins Steven and Matt as they pull furniture from his house in Old Fort as the town continues to clean up after flooding of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. The high water mark inside McAnally's house was 46 inches. (
Old Fort Helene
Jaxson Bartlett, 10, gets a hug from his fourth grade teacher, Anna Rowland, after his family brought her family gifts on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 in Old Fort. Rowland was staying with her mother, Emily, and sister, Lindsay Latham when they forced out of the family home (background) by flood waters of Hurricane Helene.
Old Fort Helene
A pickup truck and mobile home were among the many items swept into a small tributary of the Catawba River in Old Fort during Hurricane Helene.
Old Fort Helene
Flood waters rose to 46 inches inside Steven McAnally's Old Fort home during Hurricane Helene, as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Old Fort Helene
Floodwaters rose to 46 inches inside Steven McAnally's Old Fort home during Hurricane Helene.
Old Fort Helene
Kevin McAnally fills a carboy with non-potable water that his cousin, Steven, can use to flush his toilet in Old Fort as the town continues to clean up after flooding of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. The water was being distributed by Paul Brewer (left), whose house was destroyed in the flooding and was still trying to help out his community.
Old Fort Helene
Steven McAnally (left) looks through family photographs pulled from an antique secretary with his nephew, Duncan, as they pull furniture from his house in Old Fort as the town continues to clean up after flooding of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. The high water mark inside McAnally's house was 46 inches.
Old Fort Helene
Items of value salvaged from Steven McAnally's home in Old Fort are seen as the town continues to clean up after flooding of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. The high water mark inside McAnally's house was 46 inches.
Old Fort Helene
Loch Koulouris (left) and Mads Mirassou pick up donated fresh produce from The Davis Country Store & Cafe in Old Fort so they can cook pots of stew for the evening meal on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. They are among the many volunteers who are cooking hot meals for the many local residents still without power, the first responders working the region and the workers and volunteers who have come to aid in the clean up. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Teacher Jen Ames assembles meals at The Davis Country Store & Cafe for delivery to a crew working to repair the Old Fort water and sewage systems on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Steve Shropshire, an employee of Columbia Forest Products in Greensboro, delivers boxes of non-perishable foods from a distribution center to The Davis Country Store & Cafe in Old Fort on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. Store owner Amy Davis is coordinating hot meal distribution from the store. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Bradley Dowdy divides larger bags of pet foods into gallon-sized bags for distribution from The Davis Country Store & Cafe in Old Fort on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Old Fort Helene
Winston-Salem Journal Amy Davis, owner of The Davis Country Store & Cafe in Old Fort hugs some of the local residents who have come for a hot meal on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. Davis and a number of volunteers are cooking hot meals for the many local residents still without power, the first responders working the region and the workers and volunteers who have come to aid in the clean up. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Students from Mountain Laurel Montessori Collective (from left) Veda Winant, 10, Isla Winant, 7 and Clover Rainey, 8, carry bottled waters for distribution to workers repairing the Old Fort water and sewage systems on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Volunteers distribute food and health care items at the Columbia Forest Products warehouse in Old Fort, one of a handful of distribution centers set up across McDowell County to help victims of Hurricane Helene. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Volunteers distribute food and health care items at the Columbia Forest Products warehouse in Old Fort, one of a handful of distribution centers set up across McDowell County to help victims of Hurricane Helene. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Broken water lines are seen in Old Fort's Mill Creek after Hurricane Helene. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
A part of U.S. 70 east of Old Fort was washed away in Hurricane Helene flooding, along with parts of the city water system, as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Volunteers distribute food, bottled water and health care items at the Columbia Forest Products warehouse in Old Fort, one of a handful of distribution centers set up across McDowell County to help victims of Hurricane Helene. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Vehicles create a cloud of dust on Catawba Avenue, the road that connects I-40 with Main Street in Old Fort as the town cleans up from flooding of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Volunteers assemble food boxes and health care items at the Columbia Forest Products warehouse in Old Fort, one of a handful of distribution centers set up across McDowell County to help victims of Hurricane Helene.
Old Fort Helene
A part of U.S. 70 east of Old Fort was washed away in Hurricane Helene flooding, along with parts of the city water system, as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Old Fort Helene
The town of Old Fort is covered in mud and debris left by the flooding of Mill Creek and the Catawba River during Hurricane Helene. North Carolina is accepting applications for a new program called Renew NC to repair or rebuild homes in western North Carolina that were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Helene.
Old Fort Helene
The town of Old Fort covered in mud and debris left by the flooding of Mill Creek and the Catawba River during Hurricane Helene. This photo was taken Oct. 2, 2024.
Old Fort Helene
Linoleum and area rugs have been removed from classrooms as crews begin to clean up Old Fort Elementary School after floodwater from Hurricane Helene got in the building.
Old Fort Helene
Mobile homes were swept away by Hurricane Helene floodwaters in Old Fort, as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. The X spray painted on the sides indicate the buildings were checked by rescue personnel and are now vacant. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Winston-Salem Journal Angel Martinez cuts up the water-damaged hardwood gym floor as crews clean up Old Fort Elementary School after floodwater from Hurricane Helene got in the building.
Old Fort Helene
Mobile homes were swept off their foundations by Hurricane Helene floodwaters in Old Fort, as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. The X spray painted on the sides indicate the buildings were checked by rescue personnel and are now vacant. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Amy Davis, owner of The Davis Country Store & Cafe in Old Fort celebrates as Flora Redd arrives with bags of food for the hot lunch on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. Davis and a number of volunteers are cooking hot meals for the many local residents still without power, the first responders working the region and the workers and volunteers who have come to aid in the clean up. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Boxes of fresh produce, including some donated by farms in the region, sit ready for the team of volunteers who are cooking hot meals for distribution out of The Davis Country Store & Cafe in Old Fort on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Amy Davis, owner of The Davis Country Store & Cafe in Old Fort, cooks fajita meat for firefighters working across the street from her store on Wednesday. She and a number of volunteers are cooking hot meals for the many local residents still without power, the first responders working the region and the workers and volunteers who have come to aid in the cleanup.
Old Fort Helene
Some of the contents of a house have been pulled in to the from yard of a house in Old Fort as the clean up begins after Hurricane Helene. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
Mobile homes were washed off their foundations in Old Fort by the flood waters of Hurricane Helene. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Old Fort Helene
A riding mower is buried in silt from Hurricane Helene flood waters in Old Fort. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Little Switzerland Helene
Sarah (from left), Tamara, Hannah and Bubba Presnell stand on the observation deck outside the Skyline Village Inn near the Blue Ridge Parkway at Gillespie Gap, on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 to connect with loved ones. Residents of the area have found that the observation deck is the only place they can get a cell signal to connect with family.
Little Switzerland Helene
Susie and Bruce Pitman of Minpro, near Spruce Pine, stand outside the Skyline Village Inn near the Blue Ridge Parkway at Gillespie Gap, on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 as they try to call their children. Residents of the area have found that the observation deck across from the inn is the only place they can get a cell signal to connect with family.
Little Switzerland Helene
The entire roadway on NC 226 below the Blue Ridge Parkway at Gillespie Gap has been washed away in a landslide in Hurricane Helene.
Little Switzerland Helene
Susie and Bruce Pitman of Minpro, near Spruce Pine, stand on the observation deck outside the Skyline Village Inn near the Blue Ridge Parkway at Gillespie Gap, on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 to call their children. Residents of the area have found that the observation deck across from the inn is the only place they can get a cell signal to connect with family.
Little Switzerland Helene
Multiple spots on NC 226A between Little Switzerland and the Blue Ridge Parkway at Gillespie Gap have been compromised due to landslides in Hurricane Helene.
Marion Helene
American Thread Road in McDowell County was severely damaged by floodwaters during Hurricane Helene as seen on Oct. 2.
Marion Helene
American Thread Road in McDowell County was severely damaged by floodwaters during Hurricane Helene, as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Marion Helene
The bridge on Pitts Station Road in Marion that leads from U.S. 221 to Baxter Healthcare was severely damaged by floodwaters during Hurricane Helene as seen on Oct. 2.
Marion Helene
More than two dozen dump trucks filled with rock to repair the CSX line north of Marion are lined up along U.S. 221 on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.
Marion Helene
Part of Pitts Station Road in Marion that leads from U.S. 221 to Baxter Manufacturing was severely damaged by flood waters during Hurricane Helene as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
Marion Helene
Trailers that were washed into the North Fork Catawba River near Sandy Andrews Memorial Park during Hurricane Helene as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
Marion Helene
Rock is transferred from road-based dump trucks to rail-based dump trucks at a station along Old Linville Road near the North Fork Catawba River to replace a washout from Hurricane Helene on the CSX line between Marion and Tennessee as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024
Marion Helene
A trailer was washed into the North Fork Catawba River near Sandy Andrews Memorial Park during Hurricane Helene as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2024.
Marion Helene
The bridge on Pitts Station Road in Marion that leads from U.S. 221 to Baxter Manufacturing was severely damaged by floodwaters during Hurricane Helene as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 2. A new route using culverts and rock is being built to cross the North Fork Catawba River.
Marion Helene
The bridge on Pitts Station Road in Marion that leads from U.S. 221 to Baxter Healthcare was severely damaged by flood waters during Hurricane Helene as seen on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. A new route using culverts and rock is being built to cross the North Fork Catawba River. (Walt Unks/Winston-Salem Journal)
