Henderson County Makes 6 Hurricane Recovery Jobs Permanent

Henderson County, North Carolina, is planning for the long haul after Hurricane Helene by making six emergency response jobs permanent fixtures in their workforce.

County commissioners voted Wednesday to convert six of the 20 temporary positions created after the September 2024 hurricane into full-time roles. The remaining temporary positions will phase out as immediate response work wraps up.

The permanent team includes a disaster grant writer, social media coordinators to keep residents informed, and a long-term recovery director who will coordinate between homeowners, FEMA, and nonprofits helping with repairs. These aren't just administrative additions. They're acknowledgments that communities like Bat Cave and Gerton still need help months after the storm changed their landscape.

Emergency Services Director Jimmy Brissie painted a clear picture of ongoing needs. "If you think about the Bat Cave and Gerton areas of Henderson County, where the rocky broad goes through, that topography has changed," he explained. Debris cleanup continues, homes still need rebuilding, and the county is working with FEMA on mitigation buyouts for destroyed properties.

The decision reflects a reality many disaster-affected communities face: the cameras leave, but the work continues for years. Henderson County chose to build permanent capacity rather than hope the next disaster won't come.

The Ripple Effect

This jobs decision creates stability beyond just employment numbers. Having dedicated disaster recovery staff means faster FEMA reimbursements for residents, better coordination with volunteer organizations, and institutional knowledge that won't disappear when temporary contracts end.

Other counties watching Henderson's recovery can see a model for sustainable disaster response. The county isn't just fixing what broke. They're building systems to handle future emergencies better, recognizing that climate change makes severe weather more likely, not less.

Meanwhile, county commissioners also selected Watermark Landscape Architects to develop amenities along the Ecusta Trail, which finally opened after Helene delayed the project by six months. Friends of the Ecusta Trail will help fund benches, fencing, signage, and dog waste stations. The trail represents the other side of recovery: communities don't just rebuild, they keep moving forward with projects that improve quality of life.

Henderson County is showing what thoughtful disaster recovery looks like when local government commits to the long game.