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Our 34rd Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers ISSUE NO. 2 • January 15, 2026 • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408
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After Hurricane Helene took everything, Romero family has new Habitat home Article by Jean Gordon
another chalet for the night and the next morning with help from Rudy and Cat (Catrina) Romero firefighters, they all hiked to the with their toddlers, Milo, 4, and Chimney Rock Fire Department. Hallie, 2, walked on the property in There they found rest, snacks, Chimney Rock on January 7 where water and friendly people offering their home once stood. The house, to help. garage, vehicles, and everything They were later airlifted by they owned were lost in the early helicopter to the Bills Creek Fire morning hours of Sept. 27, 2024 Department and from there were the day Hurricane Helene brought transported to R-S Central High devastation to Western North School, a storm shelter. Carolina. Volunteers were assisting families. When Hurricane Helene roared Among those was Steven Hughes, through Chimney Rock at about pastor of the Church of Christ 8:30am, the Romero family was in Rutherfordton. He invited the among those who literally lost Romero family to come to his everything they owned. house to stay, knowing it would be The couple returned to their better for the small children. property to take another look at the They stayed overnight and on place they called home since 2021. Sunday received help from other “Here are some children’s friends they met in the area. They clothes,” Cat said, sifting through were taken to Food Lion and also some piles of rubble lying near the to Walmart to buy necessities. couple’s two demolished vehicles. Friend Dottie, 92, offered the family Following the historic storm her car. about 16-months ago, the Romero The family’s Husky named River family is in their new Habitat for was lost during the storm, but a Humanity home located off Illinois Chimney Rock firefighter located Street in Spindale. River and reunited the dog to the During a recent interview in family. Spindale, they talked about the After a few days Rudy, Cat and the morning of the hurricane when children left the area for California they literally felt the power of water where their family lived. Cat’s under their home and they had no mother began a gofundme page in idea what to do or how to escape. order to get them back on its feet. “We were scared to death,” said Rudy,Cat, children Milo and Hallie and dog River at their new home. (Jean Gordon photo) Churches began to help the family Cat. “We had no idea where we and three months later they went could go,” she said. He jumped from the deck in an to Austin, Texas, where they had way out as the water kept roaring. The couple watched the Rocky The trees continued to fall and attempt to get the family to a nearby friends and Rudy could work. Broad River cross the road and come were snapping as the water was Airb&b just above the Esmeralda. He Before going to Texas, Rudy drove toward their home, located in the surging toward them. The garage broke his foot when he fell, but had the friend’s car back to Chimney area of the Esmeralda Inn and the split, Rudy’s truck washed into the to keep moving to get his family to Rock. Mountain Chalets. living room and the car tipped over safety. During the time in California and Rudy and Cat were hanging on to and hit the house taking out a wall. When the rain finally stopped in Texas, family members began baby Hallie, 9 months, and little Milo, He knew he had to do something and they realized the height of the making telephone calls back to desperately trying to find safety. to keep his family alive, but there disastrous storm, Rudy began to Rutherford County and came in “The house was moving under us,” seemed to be nowhere to go. scream for help. No one heard them. contact with Habitat for Humanity. Cat said. Later neighbors Christy and Dave Escaping out the back sliding door, The Romeros wanted to come “We felt it being lifted off the they found momentarily relief under a from Chimney Rock, were doing all back to the place they fell in love with ground,” said Rudy. they could to check on families. They in 2021. big tree above their home. “We saw hundreds of trees falling. “There was water to the right and found the Romeros. “The only thing on our minds, we We were surrounded by the trees as mud to the left. We watched the red “They came to the rescue, all wanted to make it back to Chimney the water began to get into the house,” bridge collapse (across the road),” working together,” said Cat. With the Rock if at all possible,” Cat said. said Rudy. Trees were blocking every said Rudy. help of the neighbors, they went to Continued on page 2.
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