OLD FORT, N.C. — Nearly a year after Hurricane Helene devastated communities across Western North Carolina, the memories are still fresh for the men and women who worked around the clock to restore power and hope.

“It became way more than putting up a wire or changing a transformer,” said Tyler Manick, a Duke Energy lineworker. “It was personal.”

When Helene made landfall, it left behind massive destruction like flooded roads, entire neighborhoods in darkness, and power lines down for miles. Crews couldn’t even access some areas without the help of boats or helicopters.

“Major roadways were gone, tree damage was huge, and houses were just gone,” recalled Tyler Nickolas, another Duke Energy lineworker.

For workers like Manick, this wasn’t just about fixing infrastructure; it was about h

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