When Hurricane Helene hit the southeastern United States in late September 2024, its destruction spared neither national forests nor members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service workforce living in its path. The national forests in North Carolina were among the worst impacted. And like so many in western North Carolina, Forest Service employees found themselves without power, water or connectivity; and some even suffered damaged homes.

Forest Supervisor James Melonas said it took three days to get 100% accountability of all employees, which included going door to door to make sure they were safe. Even as the water was still receding, these resilient employees found ways to help.

“I could not be prouder of how employees showed up following this storm,” said Melonas. “They have demonstrated incredible strength, compassion and diligence in response to a situation none of us ever imagined.”

The Appalachian and Grandfather Ranger Districts received more damage than other districts due to their numerous watersheds and elevation. Neighboring towns and cities — such as Barnardsville, Pensacola, Hot Springs and others — were devastated, as were their residents. Just as affected communities came together to support each other following the shocking damage they suffered, so too did staff from the Forest Service.

Stepping up for their communities

In the days following Helene, Forest Service law enforcement officers stood shoulder-to-shoulder with local police and sheriff departments, military personnel, federal employees and private organizations across affected areas. Together, they conducted search and rescue in communities neighboring and within the national forest.

Jody Bandy, patrol captain for the national forests in North Carolina said once he ensured the safety of his officers, they all went to work.

“I was humbled by the laser focus they had in the task at hand, stepping up to help their communities,” Bandy said. “From day one we had officers on the ground conducting dozens of search and rescues and recoveries, along with welfare checks too numerous to count.”

Bandy said his officers assisted by providing security at distribution sites, cleanups at residential homes, and, in one particularly memorable moment, they located and rescued a group of survivors nine days after the storm hit. Forest Service law enforcement officers led the survivors who had been swept away by flood waters to safety and provided food, water and medical treatment.

Just east of Asheville, the town of Black Mountain, North Carolina with a population of 8,400 was devastated by the storm. With no electricity, no water, no internet and blocked roadways, Lisa Jennings sprang into action. She conducted daily community meetings for 1,000-person crowds to help coordinate the flow of information to assist residents and relief efforts. Jennings, the recreation and trails manager for the Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest, is also a trained public information officer and immediately saw the need and opportunity to help.

“We are truly at a loss for words when it comes to expressing the immense gratitude we owe [National Forests in North Carolina] for allowing Lisa Jennings to step in during the historic crisis we faced,” Steve Parker, police chief of the Black Mountain Police Department, wrote to Forest Supervisor Melonas. “Her guidance and steadfast direction throughout this unprecedented time were critical in helping us communicate effectively with the town of Black Mountain.

“We were overwhelmed, understaffed and facing circumstances unlike anything we had ever experienced — no power, no water, no radio communication, and no internet,” he continued. “From the very beginning, Lisa’s leadership moved us toward successful communication efforts. The calm and focus she brought to the situation gave us the confidence and structure we desperately needed in those crucial moments.”

From the first raindrop

Jennings wasn’t alone in giving an early helping hand.

Barry Jones, the forest’s public services staff officer, served as the emergency manager for Yancy County, north of Asheville. He’s a third generation Forest Service employee and has worked for the national forests in North Carolina for 24 years. Jones said his Forest Service and incident command training prepared him and his team to set up an effective framework to serve impacted communities.

“We were able to have a coordinated and strategic response from the first raindrop,” said Jones. “This wasn’t just a fire or police response; it was a community response. If they were an electrician, an engineer, a logger, a doctor, a general contractor, we had a job for them to make a difference in the community.”

Jones’ team set up a command post in a local school, kept two gas stations open with generators, conducted numerous swift water rescues and began to clear a hundred miles of roads in an area completely cut off from outside assistance.

In hard-hit Swannanoa, North Carolina, Allyson Conner, land management planner, felt she had to help her town. After the Swannanoa River swelled to unimaginable levels, wreaking havoc in its path, Conner immediately went to work at her local church sorting and distributing relief supplies for her neighbors.

She saw a community unite around a mission to reach out, show up and provide during in a chaotic time. Conner and her neighbors distributed food and water, filled medical prescriptions from open pharmacies, delivered generators and even graded driveways to help the best they could.

“I knew my community was in need and I could help, so I did. We gave out so many hugs and smiles,” Conner said. “We made so many new friends and our community is so much stronger and bonded. There are silver linings amongst all the sadness. I keep looking for them. And I do find them.”

Silver linings amongst the sadness

Forest Service crews with chainsaws, heavy machinery and drones assisted local counties with accessing water supplies and communication towers, assessing damage to infrastructure, and clearing roads for emergency travel. With water a critical issue after the storm, crews prioritized clearing roads to access reservoirs and assess watersheds to help restore water to communities.

As crews labored to clear roads, there were special requests to open access for residents trapped off remote Forest Service roads. In Mitchell County, North Carolina near the Tennessee border, a family contacted Jen Barnhart, district ranger for the Appalachian Ranger District.

“Many of us made a quick transition from taking care of our own, to taking care of our neighbors,” Barnhart said. “I was glad we had crews nearby to cut through that road, clearing the path for them to get out. That was a key part of our initial life and safety mission.”

Bandy, Jones, Conner and Melonas all agreed that there are so many stories of employees that showed up to work for their communities in a time of need. Regardless of the uniform or position, the human nature to help and care for others took over in western North Carolina.

“Our employees, partners and communities have shown such resilience in Helene’s aftermath, working together to serve the people and lands most impacted,” said Melonas. “But the work doesn’t stop here, the Pisgah National Forest and our communities have a long road of recovery ahead of us. And I’m proud to be working alongside such dedicated public servants as we venture into the months to come.”