RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners have come together to reflect and shine a light on the significant rebuilding efforts in Western North Carolina following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene.
“It was scary, and it was scary because unknown, especially in those first couple of days where we had this epic telecommunications failure,” said Buncombe County Commission Chair Amanda Edwards.
The new documentary, Rising Above Helene, offers a comprehensive look at the rebuilding efforts in Western North Carolina. It features county commissioners and residents sharing their experiences and insights, providing a glimpse into what the past year has been like.
“I have seen places that I’ve known all my life, completely changed, bridges and roads that I felt were landmarks gone,” said Avery County Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Dennis Aldridge.
And one of the most complex parts was shared by another commissioner.
“I had to tell people I don’t know or have an answer to this question… this is something nobody had been through before,” said Todd McNeill, Ashe County Board of Commissioners & 1st VP NC Association of County Commissioners.
Through heartfelt interviews, sweeping visuals, and on-the-ground storytelling, the film captures the inspiring strength of neighbors who came together to rebuild what was broken.
“We are open, and we won’t want our visitors to come visit the place that we love and we get to call home,” said Edwards of Buncombe County.
As the rebuilding continues, they all want the world to see how strong they truly are.
“We have covered some ground, but we have a long way to go financially, structurally, and as we begin to plan to mitigate damage in the future, we really have to keep all of this in mind, so the plans are better than past plans,” said Aldridge.
And they hope that each person has one experience about the people of the region.
“The strength and resilience of people in this region, mountain people, and the cohesiveness of our communities,” said McNeill.
You can learn more about showtimes and locations by visiting this link.
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