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The Year After Hurricane Helene, Inside Appalachia

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It’s been a year since Hurricane Helene barreled into central Appalachia. The storm caused floods and landslides. The disaster changed the shape of rivers. It also took lives and upended entire communities, but from the beginning, the recovery brought people together.

Also, country music’s Rob McNurlin grew up with traditional music in Eastern Kentucky. His friend Marty Stuart says he’s a folk hero.

And, we check up on Virginia rapper and producer Byron Mack.

You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

Hurricane Helene: One Year Later
Whitewater Raft Guides Clean Up Nolichucky River
Filmmaker Tells Country Star Rob McNurlin's Story
Using Invasive Fish As Food For Prey
Catching Up With Virginia Rapper Byron Mack
Matthew Perry Foundation At Healing Appalachia Music Festival

Hurricane Helene: One Year Later

People standing around a blue house. — A home dedication for a survivor of Helene, who received a new home in Washington County through the Trails to Recovery organization.
*Photo Credit: Roxy Todd/Radio IQ*

It’s been a year since Hurricane Helene hit the mountains of Appalachia. The storm brought catastrophic flooding and devastated parts of western North Carolina, east Tennessee and southwestern Virginia. Our partner station RadioIQ produced a documentary about how folks recovered and rebuilt after the storm.

Roxy Todd's RadioIQ reports from southwestern Virginia.

Whitewater Raft Guides Clean Up Nolichucky River

Five people standing around a pile of garbage pulled from a river. — The Nolichucky River clean up crew. (left to right) Michael Crooks, Parrish Ross, Justin Morgan, Amelia Taylor, Nick Wirick.
*Photo Credit: Rolando Arrieta/NPR*

Erwin, Tennessee, was near the epicenter of Helene’s destruction, and it saw extensive damage along the Nolichucky River.

NPR’s Rolando Arrieta visited the area to meet with whitewater rafters and find out how the cleanup is going.

Filmmaker Tells Country Star Rob McNurlin's Story

Five people standing in front of a dimly lit stage. — Country musician Rob McNurlin (center) standing next to Colonel Steven Middleton (left of McNurlin). Middleton directed the documentary, *From The Cowboy's Boot Heel: The Musical Journey of Rob McNurlin*.
*Photo courtesy of Colonel Steven Middleton*

For decades, Rob McNurlin has played in hole-in-the-wall bars, clubs and coffee houses throughout central Appalachia. He’s recorded songs, made videos and even hosted television programs, but was never able to break into the mainstream. After McNurlin announced plans to retire, filmmaker Colonel Steven Middleton asked if he could tell the singer’s story. He made the documentary, The Cowboy’s Boot Heel: The Musical Journey of Rob McNurlin.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Middleton.

Using Invasive Fish As Food For Injured Birds Of Prey

A white man cutting open a fish on a blue table. There are other people observing him. — Somerset High School teacher Hank Gevedon demonstrates how to filet a carp.
*Photo Credit: Sam Dick/WEKU*

Invasive carp are a nuisance in waterways across the country. The carp reproduce quickly and crowd out native species. They’re even a hazard to boaters. A southern Kentucky high school teacher and his students are using the invasive fish to feed injured raptors, like bald eagles, vultures and hawks.

For the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, WEKU’s Sam Dick has more.

Catching Up With Virginia Rapper Byron Mack

A man holds a trophy and takes a selfie. — Flat Five owner Byron Mack shows a trophy for an award won by one of his songs.
*Photo courtesy of Byron Mack*

A couple years ago, Host Mason Adams reported on one of Appalachia’s most influential music recording studios. Since that story aired in the summer of 2023, Byron Mack has been through some changes.

Mason sat down with him at his home in Salem, Virginia.

Matthew Perry Foundation At Healing Appalachia Music Festival

Man in a field in front of a stage, wearing a t-shirt that says "Every band was a local band." — Matthew Perry Foundation's Nick Gaines at Healing Appalachia.
*Photo Credit: Randy Yohe/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Healing Appalachia was held in Ashland Kentucky a few weeks ago. The three-day music festival celebrated recovery, and included performances by Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers and Molly Tuttle.

This year, Healing Appalachia worked with the Matthew Perry Foundation, which was founded shortly after the actor’s death. The organization supports groups tackling addiction in their communities.

WVPB’s Randy Yohe attended Healing Appalachia and spoke with Matthew Perry Foundation Program Director Nick Gaines.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Rob McNurlin, Larry Rader and Byron Mack.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We also had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren.

You can send us an email: [email protected].

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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

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