Jean Gordon
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 1:09 pm
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Rudy and Cat (Catrina) Romero with their toddlers, Milo, 4, and Hallie, 2, walked on the property in Chimney Rock on January 7 where their home once stood. The house, garage, vehicles, and everything they owned were lost in the early morning hours of Sept. 27, 2024 - the day Hurricane Helene brought devastation to Western North Carolina.
When Hurricane Helene roared through Chimney Rock at about 8:30am, the Romero family was among those who literally lost everything they owned.
The couple returned to their property to take another look at the place they called home since 2021.
"Here are some children's clothes," Cat said, sifting through some piles of rubble lying near the couple's two demolished vehicles.
Following the historic storm about 16-months ago, the Romero family is in their new Habitat for Humanity home located off Illinois Street in Spindale.
During a recent interview in Spindale, they talked about the morning of the hurricane when they literally felt the power of water under their home and they had no idea what to do or how to escape.
"We were scared to death," said Cat. "We had no idea where we could go," she said.
The couple watched the Rocky Broad River cross the road and come toward their home, located in the area of the Esmeralda Inn and the Mountain Chalets.
Rudy and Cat were hanging on to baby Hallie, 9 months, and little Milo, desperately trying to find safety.
"The house was moving under us," Cat said.
"We felt it being lifted off the ground," said Rudy.
"We saw hundreds of trees falling. We were surrounded by the trees as the water began to get into the house," said Rudy. Trees were blocking every way out as the water kept roaring.
The trees continued to fall and were snapping as the water was surging toward them. The garage split, Rudy's truck washed into the living room and the car tipped over and hit the house taking out a wall.
He knew he had to do something to keep his family alive, but there seemed to be nowhere to go.
Escaping out the back sliding door, they found momentarily relief under a big tree above their home.
"There was water to the right and mud to the left. We watched the red bridge collapse (across the road)," said Rudy.
He jumped from the deck in an attempt to get the family to a nearby Airb&b just above the Esmeralda. He broke his foot when he fell, but had to keep moving to get his family to safety.
When the rain finally stopped and they realized the height of the disastrous storm, Rudy began to scream for help. No one heard them.
Later neighbors Christy and Dave from Chimney Rock, were doing all they could to check on families. They found the Romeros.
"They came to the rescue, all working together," said Cat. With the help of the neighbors, they went to another chalet for the night and the next morning with help from firefighters, they all hiked to the Chimney Rock Fire Department. There they found rest, snacks, water and friendly people offering to help.
They were later airlifted by helicopter to the Bills Creek Fire Department and from there were transported to R-S Central High School, a storm shelter.
Volunteers were assisting families. Among those was Steven Hughes, pastor of the Church of Christ in Rutherfordton. He invited the Romero family to come to his house to stay, knowing it would be better for the small children.
They stayed overnight and on Sunday received help from other friends they met in the area. They were taken to Food Lion and also to Walmart to buy necessities. Friend Dottie, 92, offered the family her car.
The family's Husky named River was lost during the storm, but a Chimney Rock firefighter located River and reunited the dog to the family.
After a few days Rudy, Cat and the children left the area for California where their family lived. Cat's mother began a gofundme page in order to get them back on its feet. Churches began to help the family and three months later they went to Austin, Texas, where they had friends and Rudy could work.
Before going to Texas, Rudy drove the friend's car back to Chimney Rock.
During the time in California and in Texas, family members began making telephone calls back to Rutherford County and came in contact with Habitat for Humanity.
The Romeros wanted to come back to the place they fell in love with in 2021.
"The only thing on our minds, we wanted to make it back to Chimney Rock if at all possible," Cat said.
One telephone call after another connected Rudy and Cat with Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity and in September, they learned there would be a new home in Spindale.
They arrived in Spindale on December 15 and were put up in a hotel until the dedication ceremony on December 16.
"After losing everything in the hurricane, this family is finally home again," said Kim Freeman, executive director of Habitat for Humanity. "This house is more than walls and a roof, it's a fresh start, a place of healing, and a symbol of resilience made possible by an incredible community."
Freeman said among the special guests at the dedication ceremony were Spindale Town Manager Scott Webber, and Mayor Nancy Walker, along with County Manager Steve Garrison.
"It was a wonderful dedication...to welcome this sweet little family to Spindale," Freeman said.
Rudy will return to his job in Arden in the near future and Cat will continue to be a stay at home mom.
"We've been helped by so many people and now we want to help other people in their time of need...When we needed help, we got help."
Their brand new home is sparsely furnished, but it has everything they need, the couple said.
"There is something about losing everything you have...that you find out what you don't need," Cat said.
"We've been helped by many people and now we want to continue to help other people in their times of need. We were helped when we needed it," Cat said.
The couple fell in love with Chimney Rock after Rudy's mother moved there a few years ago. They all lived together part of the time, but she was not at the house during the storm.
Habitat for Humanity and Spokes of Hope will begin building her a new home on the same property in the near future.
"It was an emotional roller coaster, up and down, up and down," said Rudy.
"Our hearts will be in Chimney Rock and we will go back there to visit," said Cat.
An artist, who makes jewelry, she looks forward to some day returning to the Lake Lure Farmers Market to sell her jewelry and Rudy will continue to build custom made garage doors.
Leaving the devastation of their home off Hwy. 64/74 in Chimney Rock on Sept. 27, 2024, was so difficult and a move they never imagined. But on December 16 as the dedication of their new home was held, Rudy, Cat, Milo, Hattie and River were home, safe and grateful.
Now as they settle in, they want to help others as they were helped.