The Bee Tree Christian Church and the Paez family’s home in Swannanoa, North Carolina, were severely affected by Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters in late September. Nearly three months later, the area remains devastated. Sebastian Saraellno Paez, a 17-year-old high school student, recalls waking up to rising floodwaters surrounding his home, prompting his family to flee to a neighbor’s house for safety. The hurricane resulted in over 200 deaths, with half occurring in North Carolina, and displaced hundreds of thousands. Many homes, particularly in uninsured mobile home parks, were destroyed. The disaster has led to a slow-moving mental health crisis, with professionals warning of long-term effects. The quality of mental health care in the coming months is deemed critical for recovery.