Every time I hear the thrum of a helicopter overhead, my mind goes straight back to those days after Hurricane Helene swept through Western North Carolina. The sound became part of the background of life — a reminder of the devastation, the recovery efforts, and the weight our community carried together.
It’s hard to put into words how much changed in that short time. Just a few years before, our office switched to an “appointment only” mode because of COVID. Then, suddenly, in the wake of the storm, our doors were wide open — not just literally, but emotionally. Neighbors, clients, and friends walked in daily. Without internet service, we couldn’t rely on emails or phone calls. Instead, we connected face-to-face, listening to stories of loss, fear, resilience, and even moments of humor amid the chaos.
Looking back now means remembering and mourning what was lost, but also holding space for the good that came out of such a difficult season. The past year has been one of rebuilding, of celebrating milestones we weren’t sure we’d reach, and of honoring the strength of this mountain community.
From an insurance standpoint, one of the biggest lessons for us — and for our clients — was patience. Claims don’t move quickly after a storm of that size. Adjusters were working around the clock, traveling across counties and states to reach families who needed them. It took time. Sometimes more time than felt comfortable. But what we saw, time and again, was that patience made space for the process to unfold — and for solutions to come through.
As we mark a year since Helene, we want to say thank you to our clients, our neighbors, and our community. Thank you for trusting us with your stories. Thank you for walking through our doors when the internet was down. And thank you for reminding us what it really means to “protect what matters.”