Regional support: Over 150 State Parks staff assisted in storm response, including as first responders and law enforcement officers. They provided security for shelters and hospitals, performed door-to-door welfare checks, conducted victim rescue and recovery, and supported the multi-agency post-storm response.

Initial Widespread Closures: In the aftermath of the storm, all 13 parks west of Interstate 77 closed for the first month after the storm. Lake Norman State Park was a staging area for park recovery across the region.

Park Closures and Reopening: Many parks were closed for extended periods. Three parks remained fully closed at the start of 2025. Chimney Rock State Park reopened June 27, 2025; South Mountains State Park in March and April 2025; and Mount Mitchell State Park, the last to reopen, on September 15, 2025. While all parks are at least partially open, extensive recovery work continues at affected parks such as Lake James State Park, New River State Park, and Elk Knob State Park.

Phased Recovery Efforts: The recovery process involved clearing debris, repairing infrastructure, and rebuilding roads and bridges, with a focus on phased reopening. Key partners were NCDOT, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Forest Service. Volunteers and state crews played a key role in restoring trails and facilities.

Thomas Wolfe Memorial (Asheville): A 120-year-old silver maple damaged the historic “Old Kentucky Home,” causing roof and interior plaster damage; exterior repairs are nearly done, with plaster and siding repairs pending. Reopened December 10, 2024

Vance Birthplace (Weaverville): Lost trees and sustained minor structure damage; severe erosion later exposed and froze the site’s water line, requiring professional repair still underway. Reopened December 10, 2024

Town Creek Indian Mound (Montgomery County): A large tree destroyed a maintenance shed; repair costs are still being determined.

DNCR's Western Office in east Asheville closed for 52 days due to lack of water and power and basement flooding (reopened around Nov. 18). The office, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has employees from the State Archives, State Historic Preservation Office, Land and Water Stewardship, and Office of State Archaeology. Repairs ongoing.

SHPO and OSA assistance with multiple cemeteries that suffered damage, including National Register-listed Riverside Cemetery in Asheville with tree falls disturbing graves. Other cemeteries suffered damage, including dislocation of burials.

State Historic Preservation Office consultation across the region with National Register-listed or -eligible districts with multiple buildings damaged or lost. Over 900 environmental reviews related to damage and reconstruction.

Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort suffered extensive damage. Museum was closed to the public until December 14, 2024. Museum reopened in a temporary location across the street. Repair/restoration work at the main location is ongoing.

The Mauney House Annex, the Museum’s support facility, was critically damaged and required demolition. All contents were lost. The Gazebo in front of the Museum was severely damaged and required demolition. The Museum building itself flooded, requiring extensive remediation and repair.

Staff are operating at the temporary location. They have led the effort in recovery, salvaging artifacts, and continuing community engagement.

$10 million agreement: NC’s Natural Heritage Program (NHP) and the US Forest Service teamed up to assess and recover from Hurricane Helene's impact on Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests, focusing on rare species.

GIS analysis for recovery: NHP and Duke University partnered to use GIS maps to identify storm damage on species and habitats, helping prioritize recovery efforts for the most affected areas.

Restoration efforts: NC Land and Water Fund (NCLWF) allocated funds for stream bank stabilization, trail restoration, and erosion control, with additional support for 28 sites impacted by the hurricane.

Library Recovery and Relocation: Libraries in Western NC with extensive damage from Hurricane Helene have reopened or relocated, including Saluda Library (reopened 2/5/2025) and Old Fort Library (reopened 7/1/2025), with Hot Springs Library operating temporarily until renovations are complete.

 Crisis Training for Library Staff: In 2025, SLNC Library Development held trainings on supporting communities during crises and disaster planning, including webinars and a non-recorded session led by Dr. Beth Wahler focused on sharing experiences post-Helene.

 Library Response to Helene: Libraries provided vital services like electricity, internet, and FEMA coordination; some also offered childcare, public information, and Starlink for areas without fiber, with SLNC staff assisting libraries and patrons during recovery.

Grants for Helene-Impacted Areas: Several Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants were awarded to libraries in impacted regions for FY25-26, including grants for virtual meeting booths and an outreach vehicle to improve service access in remote areas.

Rapid Response and Relief Fund: Within two days of the storm, the N.C. Arts Council, Arts North Carolina, and the N.C. Arts Foundation launched the N.C. Arts Disaster Relief Fund, raising nearly $1 million. Contracts with regional arts councils expanded capacity to reach 26 counties designated as federal disaster areas.

 Support for Artists: Arts Asheville awarded more than 1,500 emergency grants to individual artists by November 2024. Mountain BizWorks provided coaching, e-commerce support, and recovery calls to help artists rebuild income streams.

 Support for Organizations: By January 2025, the Arts Council awarded more than $700,000 in Hurricane Helene Relief Grants to 69 nonprofit arts organizations. Funding came from the North Carolina Arts Disaster Relief Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, and South Arts.

 National and State Advocacy: Arts Council leaders presented the arts sector’s needs to federal agencies in Washington, to the Arts Caucus of the N.C. General Assembly, and to national partners including the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Americans for the Arts, the Craft Emergency Relief Fund, South Arts, and the Appalachia Funders Network. These efforts secured federal and regional funding.

Recovery and Resilience Planning: In 2025, the Arts Council partnered with the N.C. Department of Commerce, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Economic Development Administration to integrate arts into downtown recovery planning, expand craft industry resilience, and support tourism-boosting festivals. Federal behavioral health partners also helped arts leaders prepare for the storm’s one-year anniversary in a trauma-informed way.