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The storm brought rain, wind and destructive flooding, leaving residents without power, water, cellphone service and in some cases, a home.

Here are five stories of neighbors helping neighbors, terror, loss and a glimmer of hope.

‘Please help us.’

At a Wilson Creek wedding venue, one couple was to be married the Friday of the storm. Instead, the day started with the owner of the property getting washed down the river as her home was destroyed.Ìý

Now, Brown Mountain Beach Resort begins to rebuild with the support of the community.Ìý

“Look around,� the venue manager said. “There’s so much love and hope."

Old Fort faces long road ahead

In Old Fort, a town of less than 1,000 people in McDowell County, a creek running through town rose to flood much of the downtown area.Ìý

In the aftermath of muddy streets and waterlogged homes, neighbors came out to share hot meals, take care of one another and begin to clean up.Ìý

“We love you, we’ll be praying for you,� a card from an Old Fort Elementary School student said. “We have Old Fort pride deep inside.�

Starting over after the Catawba River took their homes

One family in Burke County has lived on the same piece of property along the Catawba River since 1948.

Jim Morgan built his family's home there when he was 32. After seeing what the storm did to the house, he feels like he has to start over.

“I got back, and I started laughing,� Jim said. “I thought, ‘This can’t be true.’ I just laughed. I laughed, and this morning I woke up weeping. ... Then I couldn’t do anything but weep."

Businesses step up with food, water, aid

Owners of businesses in Burke and Catawba counties changed gears in the days after Hurricane Helene to help those in need.

One Hickory brewery started canning water instead of beer. A Hickory restaurant group sent 1,500 meals per day to western North Carolina. Other business owners drove up and down the mountain delivering supplies.

Digging out from inches of mud

One Marion restaurant exemplifies the plight of many businesses in the area. Flooding left J. Hartman's caked in mud and dirt. The restaurant threw out $30,000 of food.Ìý

“We had no idea,� an owner said. “Just like anybody else, we didn’t know the water was going to come up that high, and I felt like we were pretty safe.�