YANCEY COUNTY, N.C. — A family in Yancey County has moved into a new permanent home nearly two years after Hurricane Helene destroyed their previous residence. The Pogalz family secured housing with the assistance of non-profit organizations following an extended period of displacement.
On Sept. 27, 2024, floodwaters swept away the home of Danny and Ashley Pogalz and their four children, Kaley, Nick, Jake, and Luke, in the mountains outside Burnsville.
The family escaped across the river just in time, carrying only what they could fit in backpacks, and subsequently spent nearly two years living in campers and temporary rental properties.
Ashley Pogalz spent months working to re-establish stability for her family after the disaster left them feeling isolated. “As far as we knew, we had just kind of been forgotten,” Ashley Pogalz said.
She described the persistent stress from the day of the storm until the day they moved into their new residence on May 22. “It was fight-or-flight from the day of the storm until May 22. When we moved in here, it was fight-or-flight,” Ashley Pogalz said.
Kaley Pogalz, the oldest of the four children, had just started her senior year of high school when the disaster occurred. She captured video footage of the family’s house as it was carried away by floodwaters.
“Everybody kind of started crying, and I was like, Wait, what’s going on? And I looked at the house and you know, it’s moving. And I just kind of stood there, and I was like, Is this really happening?” Kaley Pogalz said.
The uncertainty made focusing on her high school experience difficult during a milestone year. “I feel like I got kind of robbed of my senior year cuz most people, you know, get to enjoy it. It kind of felt for me like just worrying about the future like 24/7,” Kaley Pogalz said. Despite those challenges, she attended her senior prom, walked at graduation, and is now pursuing a degree in cosmetology.
Now settled into their home, the family has embraced everyday routines and household chores. “I never thought I’d be grateful to do dishes, but it’s the little things,” Kaley Pogalz said.
As the family adjusts to their permanent space, they continue to focus on everyday moments. “Life still happens in the in-between, so you have to try your best to make the best of those moments in a not-great situation,” Ashley Pogalz said. “It has felt nice to feel normal again.”
Ashley Pogalz expressed a sense of relief now that the family has a stable home. “I don’t know if it will ever really sink in all that we’ve been through. But I guess there’s finally peace in this, since we’re here in our house,” Ashley Pogalz said.
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