BOONE, N.C. — One year after Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, the town of Boone marked the anniversary with unity, art, and healing.

Residents gathered for the Hope After Helene event, a day filled with remembrance and resilience. Activities included live music, poetry readings, support groups, and a community resource fair offering emotional and spiritual recovery services.

“There’s a large emotional toll that this storm has taken,” said Steve Troisi, Treasurer of the Catawba Long-term Recovery Group. “Even when there’s a storm like we had last night, it makes people anxious that another one might be coming.”

One of the event’s central features was a community quilt project, where residents stitched personal memories of the storm and the recovery that followed.

“The

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