Neighbors Helping Neighbors: NORA Expands Community Service in Unicoi County

The NORA team helps remove the last remnants of this property owner's porch.

When Hurricane Helene swept through our region, it left behind more than debris and damage—it left behind challenges that no one can face alone. At NORA, we’ve always believed that recovery is a community effort. And over the past few weeks, our teams have been putting that belief into action, stepping up to support the Unicoi County Long Term Recovery Group (UCLTRG) and our neighbors in need.

Answering the Call with UCLTRG

When the UCLTRG put out a call for volunteers to help with a debris removal project, NORA was eager to respond. Partnering with our friends at Osprey Whitewater, we sent in a cleanup crew that worked over the course of two full days. Together, they hauled away trailer loads of flood-damaged woody debris from a neighbor’s property and stayed until the last rake stroke made the area clean and cared for.

Just one of the many loads of woody debris the NORA team hauled off our neighbor's property

This wasn’t just cleanup—it was restoration. It was about giving a family back their yard, their sense of normalcy, and showing them that their community stands with them.

Saying Goodbye to a Home’s Last Remnant

Soon after, another NORA crew joined forces with a local property owner and volunteers to face a tougher challenge: removing the final piece of a home destroyed in the flood—the front porch.

The work was grueling: breaking apart foundation footers, hauling out heavy concrete, and clearing the site. But the true weight of the day wasn’t just in the demolition—it was in the memories bound to that porch. For the homeowner, this had been the place of countless moments: mornings spent watching the sun rise, evenings of laughter with friends, and milestones of the life he was building before the flood took it all away.

Mr. Toups says goodbye to the final pieces of his front porch

Letting go of that porch was painful, but it also marked an important turning point. Clearing it away created not just an empty space, but an opening for what comes next. With the ground cleared, there is now room for something new to rise—new projects, new beginnings, and new memories waiting to be made.

The Deeper Impact of Service

What we are learning through these projects is that service changes everyone involved. For our neighbors, it clears away pain and makes space for healing. For our NORA teams, it gives us a deeper sense of purpose and roots us even more firmly in the community we all share.

These aren’t just jobs. They’re acts of compassion. They remind us that recovery is not only about rebuilding structures—it’s about rebuilding lives, dignity, and hope.

Stronger Together

Whether it’s hauling debris, raking a yard, or dismantling the last remains of a home, every act of service strengthens the bonds that tie us together. We are grateful for the partnerships that make this work possible—from the UCLTRG’s coordination, to Osprey Whitewater’s support, to the many volunteers who continue to give their time and strength.

Because when we come together, we don’t just rebuild—we rise.

Looking Forward

NORA remains committed to not only protecting the Nolichucky River and its watershed but also to strengthening the communities that surround it. Every project we take on—whether it’s a river cleanup, water-quality testing, riparian restoration projects or volunteer support for storm recovery—is rooted in the belief that our work is about more than the environment. It’s about people, resilience, and rebuilding together.

Because together, we are better.