One year later, Old Fort still rebounding from hurricane — business returning, infrastructure on mend

When Hurricane Helene swept through western North Carolina one year ago, the waters of Mill Creek rose, flooding the town of Old Fort.

The wind and water from Helene uprooted numerous mobile homes and washed away cars into Mill Creek and the Catawba River, leaving the town's residents to wait for the restoration of cell service and the arrival of help from across North Carolina.

Helene left the town of less than 1,000 residents under a thick layer of mud and massive piles of debris. The town’s water and sewer systems were heavily damaged.

Less than two months earlier, Pam Snypes became Old Fort’s new mayor and the first woman to hold that position. Snypes faced the challenge of leading the town through hurricane recovery in her first year in office.

The town of Old Fort received assist