Heavy rain fell across parts of western North Carlina on Thursday for the first time since the devastating flooding event from Hurricane Helene and many continue to rebuild their homes.

Phil Miles, 76, a regular Muni golfer who before Helene played weekly, was back at the course for the first time Nov. 7. He was out of town when the storm reached WNC, and said even from afar, watching the devastation was “heartbreaking.”

His connection to hurricane relief came with a trip to Burning Man two years ago. Singh said he went with a team from Vista-based Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap, and while at the event he met Amanda Krause and others from the North Carolina nonprofit Grassroots Aid Partnership (GAP), which partners with Dr. Bronner’s for events in their state.