09/27/2026
On this second anniversary of Helene's arrival and destruction of our beloved community, I want to extend such gratitude for the amazing work of our fierce FIRST RESPONDERS!! Our area Fire Departments and rescue squads sacrificed so much during the days and weeks after Helene. Many of them have never fully recovered.
PTSD is a compensable occupational disease under the NC Workers' Compensation Act. REMINDER that the statute of limitations to file any NC WC claim (accident, occupational disease, or death), is two (2) years from the accident, or from a diagnosis (cancer, etc.); but with PTSD, if you keep working after a horrible event (like Helene) - you are still being EXPOSED to the trauma, so you can file if your condition worsens, and/or when your health care provider links your condition to your occupation.
On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. This catastrophic storm left behind devastation beyond words, killing more than 100 people in the state and resulting in billions of dollars in damage. Today marks two years since Helene left a permanent mark on this region. Today marks two years of recovery, rebuilding and courage through it all.
