One year ago, western North Carolina was forever changed by Hurricane Helene. We are two elected leaders in western North Carolina who remember the harrowing moments on and after Sept. 27, 2024. According to the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina, North Carolina has requested federal funding to cover 48% of Helene’s damage and as of late September, only 9% of those federal funds have been awarded. Residents in Fletcher and Boone and across western North Carolina continue to grapple with the loss of homes and property. Hurricane Helene caused $59.6 billion in damage in North Carolina:• $2.6 billion in crop loss• $12.4 billion in economic losses• 74,000 homes damaged• 108 verified storm-related fatalitiesIn Fletcher, Diamond Brand, a business over a century old, closed its doors as a result of Hurricane Helene.