Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) kicked off his 100 County Tour last week with visits to the following counties in Western North Carolina: Ashe, Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, Buncombe, Henderson, Rutherford, and Polk. On the first leg of his statewide tour, Senator Budd surveyed the storm damage and heard from local officials, small business owners, and community members about their needs on the road to recovery.
“It has been a long six months since Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina, leaving a trail of devastation—leveling homes, flooding schools, destroying businesses, and crippling critical infrastructure. As I began planning my third 100 County Tour, I knew there was no question: I had to start out West.
“Since the storm struck last September, I’ve returned to these communities time and time again to survey the damage and offer support to local officials in their recovery efforts. During my most recent visit to the region, I was deeply moved by the resilience and determination I witnessed from the victims of Helene. In the face of unimaginable hardship, families, small business owners, local officials, law enforcement, and neighbors are going out of their way to lift one another up and reach out a helping hand.
“I am fully committed to doing everything in my power in the U.S. Senate to secure the resources and relief these communities desperately need. Together, we will rebuild and create a stronger and more prosperous Western North Carolina,” said Senator Budd.
Follow Senator Budd on Flickr to see photos from the 100 County Tour HERE or click below to view individual albums.
Background on Senator Budd’s Visits to WNC:
Ashe County—Senator Budd made the first stop on his third 100 County Tour in the Town of Lansing, where he met with Mayor Mack Powers to survey damage caused by Hurricane Helene and speak with impacted members of the community.
Watauga County—Senator Budd toured the flooded Valle Crucis Elementary School to assess the damage caused after the building was submerged in four feet of water during the storm, displacing hundreds of students. Additionally, Senator Budd viewed the wreckage at the Valle Crucis United Methodist Church, which also withstood severe flooding.
Avery County—Senator Budd met with local officials at the county’s debris processing site to gain an understanding of the obstacles facing local contractors removing debris caused by the hurricane to expedite the rebuilding process.
Mitchell County—Senator Budd visited the Deyton School, where he met with county officials and received a briefing from the Baptists On Mission on operations to rebuild damaged homes for families who suffered property loss.
Yancey County—Senator Budd spent time with the West Yancey Volunteer Fire Department, personally thanking emergency personnel for their critical role in providing aid during and after the storm to local residents. He also spoke with individuals spearheading Operation Helo, a volunteer organization supporting victims of Helene, and met with displaced North Carolinians who are continuing to work through the FEMA approval process.
Madison County—Senator Budd discussed rebuilding assistance with the leadership of the Rebuild Hot Springs Area, including small business owners, local officials, and residents, to reaffirm his commitment to securing disaster relief aid to repair damage to the downtown commercial district, key tourist areas, and surrounding neighborhoods.
Buncombe County—Senator Budd spoke with the students and faculty of Excel College on the progress of their non-profit—a homebuilding operation to rebuild over three hundred homes in the next two-and-a-half years.
Henderson County—Senator Budd recognized the efforts of first responders who relocated to the Gerton Volunteer Fire Department to support recovery operations following Helene. Alongside local officials, Senator Budd also surveyed the damage at the community’s Post Office and the road repairs between Bat Cave and Slick Rock along the Rocky Broad River.
Rutherford County—Senator Budd met with local officials from Lake Lure and Chimney Rock to discuss the community’s rebuilding process and debris removal status with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Polk County—Senator Budd visited with small business owners and vendors from Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, Hendersonville, and Asheville, currently using the Tryon Equestrian Center as their base of operations following the aftermath of the hurricane. The partnership, otherwise known as the “WNC Main Street” program, has been successful in attracting economic support for local businesses from tourism.
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