Message from the Mayor - One Year Later - A Message of Reflection and Resilience
Message from the Mayor on the Anniversary of Hurricane Helene
August 2025
As we approach the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene's devastating impact on Lake Lure and our surrounding community, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on the challenges we faced and the remarkable strength our community has shown in the months since the storm.
The events of last year have been life-changing for so many of us. Hurricane Helene brought destruction to our beloved town and Western NC, taking a heavy toll on homes, businesses, historic structures, and the natural beauty that makes Lake Lure such a special place to live and visit. Many families in the surrounding area lost loved ones, pets, their homes, livelihoods, and a sense of normalcy.
Lake Lure’s nearly 100 year old utilities infrastructure (sanitary sewer systems and wastewater treatment plant); our mighty dam; Town Hall, Welcome Center, and municipal buildings; the Washburn Marina and floating boardwalk, the lake itself; and surrounding roadways and bridges were also significantly damaged by the devastating hurricane and flooding. Our breathtaking scenery and majestic landscape, cherished for generations, was shattered. Our town was left to pick up the pieces of an unimaginable disaster.
In those early days, the way forward may have seemed uncertain, and the weight of our loss felt insurmountable. Yet, even in the face of this devastation, something extraordinary began to unfold here in the unwavering resilience of the Lake Lure community.
In the wake of the storm, neighbors became lifelines for each other. Volunteers, first responders, churches, the school, and local organizations and businesses rallied together, offering not only physical help but also emotional support to those who had lost so much. It was in these moments that we truly saw the heart and soul of Lake Lure — a community that would not be defined by what it lost, but by what it could rebuild together.
Today, as we mark this anniversary, we can look around and see the results of our collective efforts. Roads have been cleared, parks restored, and public spaces revitalized. Homes have been repaired or rebuilt and yards have been refurbished. Businesses that once faced uncertainty are beginning to thrive. In fact, new businesses have opened in Lake Lure, giving us all hope for the future. Our cherished lake is being restored and we are optimistic it will reopen in 2026. The town and the landscape may never look exactly the same, but it is being restored with a spirit of perseverance and expectation.
While we have made great strides toward recovery, we must also acknowledge that some wounds remain. There are families who are still working to rebuild, businesses that are still recovering, and memories of what was lost that will never fade. But I know this community. I know that each challenge we face is met with even greater determination, and that we are stronger than ever before.
The journey of rebuilding is not over, and we must continue to support one another as we move forward. We want to set aside some time to reflect on what we experienced together and to rejoice in the progress that has been made in the past year. I invite you to join us in a special Commemoration Ceremony on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 11:00 in the Gazebo in Morse Park. Please save this date and make plans to attend.
To everyone who has contributed to our recovery — whether through time, resources, or moral support — I extend my deepest gratitude. Your efforts are what make Lake Lure a place of hope, resilience, and renewal. Hurricane Helene may have tested our strength, but it also revealed the true character of our incredible town. I am proud to serve as your Mayor, and I am confident that together, we will continue to rise above every challenge that comes our way.
Thank you, Lake Lure, for showing the world what it means to be resilient. Here's to the future, and to a community that never gives up.
