A Community Gathers on the One Year Anniversary of Helene
- Brian Disoso
- Oct 20, 2025
- 3 min read
Hurricane Helene made landfall and traveled inland, bringing historic rainfall and devastating floods to the mountain communities of East Tennessee. Weeks after the storm surge, the town of Erwin carries the scars of the damage while simultaneously demonstrating an unyielding spirit of resilience. On Sept. 27, 2025, the cleanup continued under gray skies, culminating in a vigil that offered a moment of shared reflection and faith.
The Wounds of the Water
The vast amount of water Helene unleashed, reshaped the landscape, tearing away infrastructure and threatening homes and livelihoods.
A section of the road near a bridge is completely washed out, the asphalt crumbling into a torrent of muddy water. Tree roots and logs caught in the rubble underscore the overwhelming force of the flood. The path forward remains broken, symbolizing the long road to full restoration.
Perched precariously above a massive, freshly eroded ravine, a two-story home stands as a stark reminder of the relentless power of nature. The earth beneath it was simply swept away, leaving the community to reckon with not just property damage, but the literal loss of ground.
Mountains of debris—mud, twisted metal, shredded plastics and remnants of destroyed buildings—are piled high, collected from the flood-ravaged areas of Unicoi County. This refuse pile is the visible testament to the monumental task of sweeping the storm’s damage out of the town.
Economic Devastation and the Task Ahead
The floodwaters did not spare Erwin's economic core. The Riverview Industrial Park, a hub for local jobs, was hit hard, impacting on the families of the area.
An exterior view shows the catastrophic damage sustained by a large industrial building in the Riverview Industrial Park. The metal roof and siding are torn and peeled back, exposing the skeletal structure within. Cleanup and assessment equipment now dot the muddy grounds where manufacturing once thrived.
The sign for the Riverview Industrial Park, typically a symbol of local industry and employment, stands muddied and worn. The names of the businesses listed—PlastiExports, IPC Plastics, Preston Mould—represent hundreds of jobs now temporarily, or perhaps permanently, impacted by the flooding.
Even as cleanup crews work to salvage what they can, the natural beauty of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains remains, shrouded in a somber, misty haze. The local emergency services facility stands deserted, a haunting presence against the volatile backdrop.
Gathering for Strength and Solace
As the day concluded and the rain subsided, the community sought solace and strength, gathering at Erwin First Baptist Church for a community vigil.
Riverview Baptist Church, situated close to the water's edge, shows signs of recent flooding mitigation with fresh stone fill in its parking lot. Despite the damage to its immediate surroundings, its red brick offers a solid, familiar point of light.
Inside Erwin First Baptist Church, pews are filled with residents—some in work shirts, others in casual wear—united in a vigil. Under the warm, arched wooden ceiling and the imposing organ pipes, they share a moment of collective grief, prayer and hope.
A special display has been set up near the altar: a "Tree of Hope" lit with string lights. It is adorned with small white ribbons and blank slips of paper are available for attendees to write down prayers, names or messages of hope and tie them to the tree.
As the service draws to a close, members of the community stand in the aisle, reflecting on the shared experience of the past weeks. This communal gathering is where resilience is reforged, not in steel and concrete, but in shared faith and mutual support.
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