OLD FORT, N.C. — Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina, the memories remain raw in McDowell County. For residents of the town of Old Fort, the storm was more than a natural disaster; it was a life-altering event that tested the community’s strength and resilience.

Before Helene even made landfall, the town was already dealing with flooding from days of relentless rain. When the storm hit, the creek swelled nearly 14 feet, swallowing homes and washing out the railroad bed. Parts of the track dangled in midair, a symbol of how cut off Old Fort had become.

McDowell County Emergency Services Director Will Kehler remembers the moment vividly.

“I’ve lived here all my life and worked here my entire career, and it was just so emotional, seeing the devastation,

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