After Hurricane Helene devastated southwestern Virginia, Carl and Linda McMurray, an elderly couple, had their home rebuilt by volunteers from the Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) and other nonprofits. The storm had nearly cost them their lives, with Carl being swept away by floodwaters and Linda trapped in the remains of their house. Their new home was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local leaders, including Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The reconstruction project, which aims to rebuild several homes, costs around $1.4 million, funded by a mix of public and private sources. Despite the significant efforts by local and nonprofit organizations, the state has yet to receive the $4.4 billion in federal funding requested for recovery from the disaster, sparking criticism of the federal response.

Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, struck the Gulf Coast and southwest Virginia in late September 2024, causing widespread devastation, closing roads and bridges, and resulting in $630 million in damages.

Carl and Linda McMurray faced a harrowing ordeal during the storm, with Carl being swept away by floodwaters and Linda trapped in their collapsing home, each believing the other was lost until they were reunited.

The Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), along with other nonprofits, provided free labor and thousands of volunteer hours to rebuild the McMurrays' home, with skilled workers rotating weekly to assist with construction.

Each rebuilt home costs about $130,000, with homeowners contributing approximately 10% from their FEMA disaster assistance, while the rest is covered by Trails to Recovery, a nonprofit coordinating the rebuild.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin highlighted the heroism and extensive community efforts during the storm, emphasizing the need for continued support to provide other families with similar rebuilding opportunities.

Despite local and state efforts, Virginia has not received the requested $4.4 billion in federal aid for disaster recovery, leading to criticism from Vice President JD Vance about the federal government's response.

The Office of Hurricane Helene Recovery and Rebuilding has been established to coordinate efforts, with Chief Transformation Officer Rob Ward leading the initiatives to aid affected communities.