Hurricane Helene damaged nearly 20,000 homes across Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties. In the year after the storm, Scroggs Construction Services completed more than 40 restoration projects, including the home of a Fairview family we’ll call the Clarks.
The Clarks built their ranch-style home in 2001. They raised their son there and planned to stay for decades to come. But at 4:15 a.m. on September 27, 2024, a violent wind gust toppled a massive oak tree in their yard, sending it crashing through one end of the home. Minutes later, another tree crushed the garage, forcing the family to the middle of the house as windows blew out around them.
“Glass was flying everywhere. I was on the phone with my mom when the second tree hit, and I just started screaming,” Sarah recalls. “Tom looked at me and said, ‘We can’t stay here. We’ve got to go.’”
The couple and their son grabbed the dogs and evacuated to the Fairview Fire Department, arriving just as floodwaters crested Cane Creek.
Two days later, when the roads were finally cleared enough to drive back, the Clarks saw the full extent of the damage. The home they had cherished for more than two decades was twisted off its foundation. Both Buncombe County and FEMA deemed the structure uninhabitable.
“I just lost it,” Sarah says. “To drive up and see what was left of our house was absolutely devastating.”
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
On the third day after the storm, Sarah and Tom’s neighbor, Jack Sorrentino, arrived at their home. Jack has been with Scroggs Construction Services for five years and now serves as our VP of Sales and Marketing. But that morning, he wasn’t acting in an official capacity—he was simply a friend doing what he could.
“My heart sank when I saw their house,” Jack says. “I could sense the feeling of helplessness they were experiencing.”
Jack climbed onto the roof, assessed the damage, and helped begin the process of cutting away limbs and tarping the structure. As he worked, Jack knew predatory contractors from out of town were already swooping in with inflated estimates and high-pressure sales tactics, hoping to make a quick buck off the disaster.
“It made me sad to think that all my neighbors may be subject to scammers or worse,” he says. “We had to do something to help by offering our services to the community.” What started as one neighbor helping another soon became a company-wide mission. In the weeks after the storm, Scroggs launched a dedicated restoration division, hiring more than a dozen new employees to help WNC recover.
Rebuilding Smarter and Stronger
The Clarks became one of Scroggs’ first restoration clients after Helene. With their home declared a total loss, the only option was to start fresh. Fortunately, Sarah had saved the original blueprints from when the family built the ranch home in 2001.
Working from those plans, Scroggs’ design team helped the Clarks recreate the home they loved while making thoughtful updates for the future. They expanded the porch, vaulted the ceilings in the living room, and opened up the kitchen and dining spaces. Whenever possible, the team also reused materials that had survived the storm—small but meaningful pieces of continuity after so much loss.
As construction moved forward, Sarah and Tom watched as the old house came down and the new one took shape. Each milestone carried weight—grief for what was lost, but also relief and hope for what was coming.
This fall, after nearly a year of displacement, the Clarks turned the key and stepped inside their fully restored home.
“Tearing the old house down was emotional. It was heartbreaking to watch crews take apart what we had built over the course of 23 years,” Sarah says. “But the home we have now is far beyond what we ever imagined. It’s beautiful, and Scroggs has done a phenomenal job.”
A Story Worth Sharing
This October, the Clarks’ home will be featured during the 44th Annual WNC Parade of Homes, hosted by the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains (BABRM).
The Parade is a free, self-guided tour that gives visitors an inside look at the region’s most inspiring new homes and renovations, highlighting the craftsmanship and creativity of local builders. This year’s event runs October 11-12 and 18-19, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with both in-person tours and virtual options available. The Clarks’ home will be part of the virtual tour.
For Scroggs Construction Services, having the Clarks’ home included in the Parade is a symbol of resilience.
“The Parade of Homes has always been about showing what’s possible when vision and craftsmanship come together,” says Nick Scroggs, co-owner of Scroggs Construction Services and this year’s president of BABRM. “The Clarks’ home tells a powerful story of loss, perseverance, and renewal. We’re honored to share it with the community.”
Plan your tour at wncparadeofhomes.com.