Black Mountain to Commemorate the One-Year Anniversary of Helene
It’s been one year since Tropical Storm Helene swept through Western North Carolina, leaving behind both heartbreak and powerful stories of resilience. Over the next few weeks, communities across the region including Black Mountain are coming together to honor the lives impacted and the strength it took to rebuild. Through remembrance events, volunteer projects, and shared stories, hope continues to rise from the storm’s shadow.
Community Tree Giveaway program
Saturday, Sept. 27 from 10am-2pm
Black Mountain Town Hall
On Saturday, September 27, 2025, the Town of Black Mountain will mark the one-year anniversary of Helene with a special Community Tree Giveaway event and program. The event will take place in front of Town Hall (160 Midland Avenue) from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The event will honor the community’s resilience, commemorate the progress made in recovery, and take tangible steps to restore the tree canopy lost during the storm.
At least 200 free native trees will be distributed to residents, complete with planting and care instructions to ensure long-term growth.
“This event is both about healing and about looking ahead,” said Assistant Town Manager Jessica Trotman. “Replanting our trees is one way we’re making Black Mountain stronger and more resilient for the future.”
Event highlights include:
Program with Speakers – Brief remarks from Mayor and Town Council members, Town Manager Josh Harrold, Assistant Town Manager Jessica Trotman, and other Town staff.
Tree Giveaway – Multiple species of native trees available for residents to plant on their property.
Stormwater & Floodplain Information – Learn about local programs, regulations, and projects that reduce future flood risks.
Recovery & Resilience Updates – Displays and information on facility repairs and ongoing resiliency efforts.
Community Reflection Corner – Interactive activities where residents can share stories, memories, and lessons learned from the past year, as well as participate in a community map showing where new trees will be planted across town.
The event is free and open to the public.
Come Hell or High Water archive project
Come Hell or High Water is an on-going project by the Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections to collect, preserve, and present the stories and digital record of the Western North Carolina communities impacted by Helene. The goal is to offer pathways for community reflection, healing, and long-term development of community memory not afforded victims of past disasters.
The helenehistory.omeka.net portal is open to anyone who wishes to contribute. Whether it’s a personal story, photographs, or a video, or audio file, all submissions will be considered. In addition to the crowdsourced materials, Come Hell or High Water will feature scientific and environmental data, media coverage of the storm, and a collection of historic photos of past significant weather events in Western North Carolina.
“As 21st century archivists, we have the opportunity to document our community’s experiences in a way that was not afforded to victims of past disasters. By crowdsourcing materials, we can ensure that future historians have access to a more comprehensive and equitable group of resources when they tell the story of how we weathered this storm,” said Katherine Calhoun Cutshall, Buncombe County Special Collections Manager.
More Events throughout WNC
A number of other events are taking place in Black Mountain, Asheville, and throughout Western North Carolina. Check out the Citizen Times for a listing of some, and visit individual community and venue websites for more events and details, including healingheartslab.org and visitblackmountainnc.org/celebration-of-resiliency-black-mountain-swannanoa-valley
