09/11/2026
September 11, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ashe County Recovery & Restoration Announces Next Phase of Long-Term Recovery Effort
West Jefferson, NC — Community leaders are coming together to strengthen long-term disaster recovery efforts in Ashe County through the continued growth of Ashe County Recovery & Restoration, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals, families, and communities recover from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
Ashe County Recovery & Restoration will continue serving as the county’s long-term recovery organization, bringing together nonprofit partners, faith-based organizations, businesses, government agencies, and volunteers to coordinate resources, identify unmet needs, and support survivors as recovery continues.
Ashe County Recovery & Restoration is thankful for their ongoing partner relationships with UMCOR, Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, United Way, Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, NC Community Foundation, and countless other nonprofits, businesses, faith-based organizations, and individuals who answered the call to assist Ashe County in this time of recovery and restoration.
“In the wake of the storm, it became clear to me without concerted effort to assist people in recovering from the storm, we would end up with even more people in a housing crisis then we already had. It was such a beautiful experience to have so many people coming together to form the first LTRG in Ashe County. Neighbors joined together and welcomed people from all over to work together to assist those devastated by the storm. We brought in close to a million dollars with the newly formed nonprofit, and the disaster case management unit was able to assist over a hundred households regain stable, safe, and healthy homes.
As many families still continue in their recovery process, it is now time to pass the baton to a new group of dedicated, community minded individuals to continue this important work. Although the emotional memory of this terrible storm may take some time to heal, we must continue to ensure the physical devastation left by Hurricane Helene is repaired and work to prepare our community for the next potential storm,” said Tracie McMillan, founder and past Chair of Ashe County Recovery & Restoration.
As part of this transition, disaster case management services will continue through new partnerships to ensure residents with ongoing recovery needs receive personalized assistance and support. The organization will also continue building a diverse volunteer board that reflects communities across Ashe County and provides strong local leadership for the years ahead.
“This next chapter is about collaboration,” said Randy Revis, incoming Chair of Ashe County Recovery & Restoration.
The organization remains committed to:
* Coordinating long-term disaster recovery efforts across Ashe County.
* Supporting individuals and families with unmet recovery needs.
* Strengthening partnerships among nonprofits, churches, businesses, and government agencies.
* Seeking grants, donations, and volunteers to sustain recovery efforts.
* Building community resilience for future disasters.
Residents who continue to experience unmet needs related to Hurricane Helene are encouraged to reach out for assistance. Community members interested in volunteering, serving on the board, partnering with the organization, or making a tax-deductible donation are also encouraged to get involved.
Recovery takes an entire community. Together, Ashe County Recovery & Restoration is committed to ensuring that no neighbor is left behind.
For more information, visit Ashe County Recovery & Restoration or contact the organization through its website, www.ashecountyrecovery.com.
