Displaced families find community support in Chapel Hill following Hurricane Helene's impact

Students in Buncombe County have been out of school for nearly three weeks due to the damage caused by Hurricane Helene.

Tragically, the district has confirmed that four students lost their lives in the storm.

Many families have relocated to the Triangle as recovery efforts begin in their hometowns.

In Chapel Hill, several families displaced by Hurricane Helene are coming together to process their trauma while receiving therapy and support.

Conversations at the Chapel Hill Community Center Park often start with simple greetings like, “How are you?” and “How about you?” as they reconnect.

“This wasn’t necessarily something that was taught in the school counseling playbook, right, how to work through devastation, loss during a natural disaster,” Joe Ainsworth, Buncombe County high school counselor said.

Ainsworth is working to reconnect with families who have also moved to the Triangle after the storm.

“And I know as an adult, I’m having trouble processing the trauma from this natural disaster. Can you imagine what a kid has to go through, how they’re trying to pick up the pieces and figure things out,” Joe said.

In response, he organized a team of mental health professionals, therapists, and even therapy dogs to support students of all ages.

“It was pretty scary. It was super surreal just seeing my home just in a completely different way,” Jayden Thomas, a senior at AC Reynolds High School said. “It almost felt like the end of the world, like the apocalypse, or something like that.”

Jayden relocated with her sister while leaving their father, a tree lineman, behind to help restore their community.

“We’re taking it day by day as we handle our mental health during this time,” she explained.

Despite the challenges, Jayden is focused on her future, noting, “I still have college applications due in the next two weeks, so I’m giving myself grace and doing what I can.”

She has been able to visit college campuses while in the Triangle and looks forward to returning to practice as the section leader of her marching band when extracurricular activities resume on Monday.

“It’s great to have a sense of normalcy returning, which I truly appreciate,” Jayden said.

Amid this life-changing event, a sense of hope is emerging within the community as they strive to heal together.

Joe Ainsworth emphasized, “The personal loss, property loss, and the disruption to education are challenges we must navigate as a community.”

Processing emotions after natural disasters can be particularly difficult for children. Here are some resources available to help.