Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller led a special ceremony one year after the devastating Hurricane Helene.
Along with members of the police force, representatives from the school system and county commissioners, and community members, the sheriff's office unveiled a framed American flag in the main hall of the Buncombe Courthouse.
“Every day we live with the consequences of that storm, but my team is still here, still coming, still doing the work. This flag is for them because they love this county and they never stopped serving,” Miller said during the ceremony.
The sheriff was visibly emotional during the ceremony and recalled what it's like to know you've become homeless. In 2020, his home in Arden was completely destroyed by a fire.
Miller recalled that losing everything in a matter of hours left a deep mark on him and that the experience helped him better understand the families' pain. affected by Hurricane Helene.
“When I visited my officers after the storm, I felt that same emptiness again. But I also saw the strength of this community to keep going,” he said.
He was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife, Karen Sconiers, who also shared how difficult that time was: the days without news, the nights of uncertainty, and the feeling of loneliness. "It was very hard," she said.
Related>> A year of scars: Hope for a better future and a slow recovery in the western Latino community
Support from fellow bailiffs
The bailiffs also participated in the ceremony Garry McFadden, of Mecklenburg County, and Bobby Kimbrough Jr., of Forsyth County, who traveled to Asheville to be with Miller. Both recalled the later hours Hurricane Helene, when the total loss of communications prevented them from contacting him.
The sheriffs reported that, due to the lack of information, they decided to mobilize their teams towards Buncombe to offer support to the sheriff's office. They agreed they had never witnessed a disaster of this magnitude and that it was difficult returning to their counties knowing what the region was facing.
The three sheriffs have maintained a close friendship for years, forged through work and public service.
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Symbol of resistance and hope
Miller said a deputy rescued a hurricane-damaged flag and hung it in the sheriff's office. That flag, though torn, became symbol of resistance and hope for them during Helene's first months.
“During Helene, we were left without communication, not knowing if others were okay. All we had was each other. That flag represents that: that even in the midst of chaos, we're still together,” the Buncombe sheriff concluded.
The ceremony unveiled the new flag, which "represents the rebuilding and spirit of the county," a symbol of community resilience in the aftermath of the hurricane and a way to honor the sheriff's staff who worked during and after the emergency.
Quentin Miller was elected Buncombe County Sheriff in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Born and raised in Asheville, he is Buncombe County's first African American sheriff.
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After the storm
A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.
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