Sherry Housley poses for a photo in her school bus home on September 18, 2025 in Burnsville, N.C. Photo: Allison Joyce/Getty Images
Sherry Housley lost everything when a wall of debris from Hurricane Helene crashed into her Yancey County home, filling it with water, cars, mailboxes, and even a washing machine, Spectrum News' Courtney Davis reports.
For months, she's lived in an old school bus and tents, storing her few remaining belongings in yurts. Now, volunteers from Mountain Heritage High School's carpentry team and Rebuilding Hollers are helping her rebuild. Together, they're constructing a new home that Sherry has already named "Gracie."
"I sit here and I just imagine being able to decorate for Christmas this year, and what it will feel like to sit in there and look at the first snow, and just start a new life in my Gracie. It's been a long journey."
— Sherry Housley
Flashback: Hurricane Helenestruck western North Carolina on Sept. 27, 2024, killing at least 108 people in the state. Several are still missing.
The big picture: In western North Carolina, tourists are returning to buzzing destinations like Asheville and Boone. Such towns are still recovering, but businesses are reopening, and homes are being rebuilt.
Yes, but: Other small towns, from Waynesville to Lake Lure, say they're still waiting on federal assistance to rebuild — forcing many local officials to make repeat trips to Washington, according to Smoky Mountain News.
What we're watching: Gov. Josh Stein recently requested $13.5 billion in aid from Congress for Hurricane Helene recovery, with funds aimed at rebuilding homes and businesses, supporting local governments, and repairing infrastructure across western North Carolina.
Including previously appropriated allocations, Stein is seeking a total of $23 billion, which he says is essential to ensure the region gets its fair share of federal disaster aid.
