LANSING, N.C. — It’s been nearly a year since Jamey Hart was standing inside CJ’s Market in Lansing when water started pouring in. His wife was trying to open a window while he was working to get shelves back in order.
“It was a 20-minute period from where it was seeping under the door to where it came in the store, and I realized my life could have been in danger,” Hart said.
The next day he returned, finding Helene had destroyed his business.
After nearly a year of work, they’re just weeks from opening back up fully.
“It did not take long for us to realize we thought it was our calling to make sure the store came back,” Hart said.
Lansing Assistant Fire Chief Donald Sykes said on Sept. 27 they are reopening the town. He said all businesses are planning to open back up in some capacity.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done. It’s going to take some outside help to get us back, not just the town but the community to get the community back where it was,” Sykes said.
Sykes said he agrees with Gov. Josh Stein’s call for $13.5 billion in federal aid. Sykes said the area still needs it.
“There’s been a lot going on, a lot of people have been workin’ hard,” Sykes said.
On Monday, Stein said six out of seven businesses have not returned to pre-Helene revenues. Stein also said 96% of small businesses reported impacts from Helene. The governor was in Flat Rock to announce his call for additional federal relief money.
Hart has lived the experience but vows he and others aren’t going anywhere.
“I’m just like, we’re coming back, you come back too,” Hart said.
Rose Eiklor
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