Knoxville, September 26, 2025
News Summary
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastating flooding, Van and Frances Ford welcomed an army of volunteers into their home for a year-long restoration project. The volunteers, comprising veterans and civilians from across the U.S., repaired structural damage, enhanced accessibility, and replaced lost furnishings. This collective effort illustrated community resilience, as local businesses and organizations supported ongoing recovery efforts in East Tennessee, which continues to grapple with the impacts of the flooding.
Knoxville — Van and Frances Ford welcomed volunteers into their home after Hurricane Helene caused historic flooding along the Pigeon River. An army of volunteers worked for 12 months to restore their home, adding new furniture and constructing a ramp and stairs.
Key developments
Who was helped and how: Van and Frances Ford, residents affected by the flooding along the Pigeon River, received months of organized volunteer support to repair and rebuild their home. The volunteer effort included structural repairs, interior work, installation of a ramp and stairs for accessibility, and replacement furnishings.
Organizers and participating groups: Dallas Short, a Navy veteran and leader of a charity focused on helping military veterans, organized rebuilding efforts for the Fords and initially adopted four veterans affected by the flooding. Don Smith from the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1078 coordinated veteran volunteers and focused on filling recovery gaps that other organizations did not address. The effort was described by organizers as one rooted in shared service and mutual support among veterans.
Volunteer reach: Volunteers came from all over the United States, including Louisiana, Colorado, Alabama, and Texas. The effort drew veteran and civilian volunteers who traveled to East Tennessee to assist with home repairs, accessibility improvements, and interior restoration.
Scope of damage and ongoing recovery
Human toll and geography: The flooding resulted in 18 deaths in Tennessee and caused significant destruction across eight counties. The anniversary of Hurricane Helene highlighted the continuing recovery needs in East Tennessee, where rebuilding of homes and public infrastructure remains in progress.
Infrastructure impacts: Interstate 40 suffered extensive damage and is undergoing a multi-year rebuild to prevent future flooding issues. Public infrastructure restoration, including roadways and bridges, remains a multi-year effort coordinated by state and local agencies.
Local business and community support: Businesses in Knoxville, like Hi-Wire and Mast General Store, played a crucial role in supporting recovery efforts through sales and donations. Community fundraising, local business contributions, and volunteer coordination have provided needed resources for families while government and insurance processes continue.
Personal stories and community response
Family and community members continue to process loss and begin long-term recovery. In the face of tragedy, residents like Keli Cloyd continue to search for loved ones affected by the storm, sharing personal stories of loss and resilience. Some households have returned to repaired homes, while others remain displaced as insurance claims and infrastructure repairs delay full recovery.
The Fords and their volunteer teams reported practical outcomes: accessibility features such as ramps and stairs were added, room renovations were completed, and new furniture replaced items lost in the flood. Those coordinating the effort emphasized filling service gaps for veterans and ensuring that veteran households received targeted assistance during long-term recovery.
What remains to be done
- Ongoing repairs for homes and public infrastructure across the affected counties.
- Continuation of multi-year work on Interstate 40 and related flood mitigation projects.
- Support services for families still displaced or searching for missing loved ones.
- Coordination among volunteer groups, charities, local businesses, and government agencies to prioritize the most urgent needs.
Context and background
Hurricane Helene produced historic flooding along the Pigeon River and other watersheds in East Tennessee, resulting in widespread damage across multiple counties. The scale of destruction overwhelmed some local systems and prompted a large volunteer response, including veteran organizations and out-of-state volunteers. Recovery remains uneven, and many communities face multi-year timelines for full restoration of homes, infrastructure, and services.
FAQ
What happened with Van and Frances Ford?
Van and Frances Ford welcomed volunteers into their home after Hurricane Helene caused historic flooding along the Pigeon River.
How long did volunteers work on the Ford home?
An army of volunteers worked for 12 months to restore their home, adding new furniture and constructing a ramp and stairs.
How many deaths and what geographic scope did the flooding affect?
The flooding resulted in 18 deaths in Tennessee and caused significant destruction across eight counties.
What happened to Interstate 40?
Interstate 40 suffered extensive damage and is undergoing a multi-year rebuild to prevent future flooding issues.
Where did volunteers come from?
Volunteers came from all over the United States, including Louisiana, Colorado, Alabama, and Texas.
Did local businesses support recovery?
Businesses in Knoxville, like Hi-Wire and Mast General Store, played a crucial role in supporting recovery efforts through sales and donations.
What is the overall state of recovery in the region?
The community is still recovering from Hurricane Helene’s impact, with repair work expected to take years.
Who organized veteran-focused rebuilding efforts?
Dallas Short, a Navy veteran and leader of a charity focused on helping military veterans, played a critical role in organizing the rebuilding efforts for the Fords.
What role did the Vietnam Veterans of America play?
Don Smith from the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1078 emphasized the importance of helping fellow veterans and filling gaps left by other organizations.
What personal experiences continue to affect residents?
In the face of tragedy, residents like Keli Cloyd continue to search for loved ones affected by the storm, sharing personal stories of loss and resilience.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary beneficiaries | Van and Frances Ford |
| Event | Hurricane Helene historic flooding along the Pigeon River |
| Volunteer duration | 12 months |
| Volunteer origins | Volunteers came from all over the United States, including Louisiana, Colorado, Alabama, and Texas |
| Deaths | 18 deaths in Tennessee |
| Counties affected | Significant destruction across eight counties |
| Infrastructure | Interstate 40 suffered extensive damage and is undergoing a multi-year rebuild to prevent future flooding issues |
| Local business support | Businesses in Knoxville, like Hi-Wire and Mast General Store, supported recovery through sales and donations |
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Additional Resources
- Knox News: Asheville businesses supported Knoxville during Hurricane Helene flooding
- Knox News: Hurricane Helene anniversary flooding in East Tennessee
- WBIR: East Tennessee woman searching for husband post-Hurricane Helene
- Wikipedia: Hurricane Helene (2025)
- Google Search: Hurricane Helene 2025 Tennessee flood
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