Sunday kicked off a ‘Week of Well Wishes’ in Erwin, Tennessee, as the Unicoi County Long Term Recovery Group arranged events throughout the week, leading up to the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene on Saturday.

“These mountains and rivers feel like an extension of myself, both physically and emotionally,” expressed Polly Horn, a member of the Spiritual Advocacy Group within the recovery team. “Reflecting on the past year, it’s been one filled with frantic moments, urgent responses, and crisis management. Now, it seems like a moment of pause to acknowledge, ‘we’ve spent a year tackling these challenges, and we’ve reached this point.'”

On Sunday, the “Honoring our Mountains and Rivers” event took place at Uncle Johnny’s, situated near the Chestoa Pike bridge, which was swept away during Hurricane Helene. This location marks the initial point of the storm’s impact on Unicoi County.

“The spirit of Erwin is remarkably strong. We’ve survived some very tough times,” stated Terry Wise, Uncle Johnny’s owner, to News Channel 11. “The breaking of the bridge was a significant ordeal for the community, marking the beginning of our struggles, and things worsened downstream. It’s a poignant spot to commemorate Helene’s anniversary and reflect on our progress over the year.”

Overall, Horn said this week is about one thing.

“Community is a key theme,” noted Horn. “It’s truly moving and inspiring to witness how the community has naturally coalesced with a united purpose.”

For a list of more events this week, click here.