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Macon County reports storm damage and outlines recovery steps after Hurricane Helene
Summary
Interim manager Warren Cabe reported 57 structures damaged from Hurricane Helene (2 uninhabitable, 24 extensive repairs, 28 some repair, 3 minor), one county employee fatality, roughly 200 power outages and ongoing recovery operations including a distribution center and D-SNAP preparations.
Interim County Manager Warren Cabe updated the Macon County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 8 about the county’s response and recovery from Hurricane Helene, reporting significant rain, wind damage and a continuing recovery effort.
Cabe said parts of the county received heavy rainfall — Franklin saw roughly 10 to 14 inches and Highlands sustained strong winds around 50 mph — and listed preliminary damage tallies: 57 structures damaged (two uninhabitable, 24 requiring extensive repairs, 28 needing some repair, three minor). He reported one county employee fatality, nine water rescues, and that about 200 customers remained without power at the time of the briefing. Cabe said some residents were being temporarily housed in hotels (he cited 31 people housed at Downtown Door for several nights) and that the county prefers hotel placements until sheltering needs reach thresholds that require opening public shelters.
Cabe described current recovery steps: a recovery distribution center for food and supplies is operating, the county’s Department of Social Services is preparing for a D-SNAP (disaster supplemental nutrition assistance) program, and an Unmet Needs Committee of local organizations and agencies has been convened to coordinate assistance. He said processes and response protocols will be reviewed after the event and warned recovery could take multiple years.
Why it matters: The reported structural damage, an employee fatality and ongoing infrastructure outages create immediate needs for housing, repairs and public assistance. Local officials emphasized coordination with state and nonprofit partners to identify resources and manage longer-term recovery.
What’s next: County staff will continue damage assessment, coordinate D-SNAP and other assistance, and report back to the board; no new emergency declaration or state-request details were provided at the Oct. 8 meeting.
