BURNSVILLE, N.C. — For the past six months, Eugene Hensley has spent time almost every day trying to make temporary fixes to his family’s country road.

Hensley says his family has lived on and owned the property in the woods in Yancey County for generations. But Hurricane Helene caused more damage than the family has ever seen.

What You Need To Know

  • Eugene Hensley's family has lived on their Yancey County property for generations

  • He says Hurricane Helene was the worst storm they've ever seen

  • Their private road was washed out with the storm

  • Hensley says not only does the driveway worry him, but he can't find contractors available to repair it

“This was worse, I mean, the worst devastation, just the sheer, widespread damage,” Hensley said. “The Cane River is just destroyed, Mouth Creek, a little creek and all that completely wiped out.”

With each new threat of a storm comes the fear his repairs will wash down the mountain again.

“Sometimes it gets frustrating,” he said. “But you just have to have that mindset where you know, it's something you have to do.”

Hensley says most of his neighbors are his elderly relatives. Just a few months ago, his uncle suffered a stroke on the mountain.

While EMS was able to get his uncle to the hospital, he died a few days later.

Hensley says they requested funds from FEMA to fix the private road, but they got only $1,600.

“It’s not much,” he said. “Probably would just pay for gravel.”

But even after receiving the money, Hensley says he hit another hurdle — finding someone who could do the job. 

“They all come up here and said, now they're coming to help and stuff and never see them again,” he said. “I mean, it's nothing against them. I know they're busy and all that.”

It has left everyone on the hill in a precarious position, wondering if an emergency happens, will they get down the hill.

“It gives me a lot of sleepless nights, and I start thinking about it or dwelling on it,” he said.

And even though Hensley says he’s finally heard back from Operation Helo to get his road fixed, he’s still concerned for his neighbors and others across western North Carolina, waiting for the manpower to get their jobs done.

“It is concerning. I know a lot of people need help,” Hensley said. “I truly feel for them, honestly, my heart goes out to them. ... I just hope people get the help they need.”

Last month, Gov. Josh Stein announced a new program to help western North Carolinians access funding and resources to fix private roads and bridges.