Tropical Storm Helene Overwhelms Alexander Chapel's Historic Black Burial Ground, Grant Stalled

Tropical Storm Helene struck the grounds of Alexander Chapel United Methodist Church in Buncombe County on Feb. 25, 2026, overwhelming the church’s historic Black burial ground and leaving volunteer stewards and church leaders scrambling as a promised cleanup and preservation grant remains stalled. The damage occurred during the storm’s passage and local caretakers confronted immediate threats to marked and unmarked burial sites.

Alexander Chapel United Methodist Church in Buncombe County is the custodial body for the burial ground that community members identify as historically Black; the storm’s impact on Feb. 25 left the site waterlogged and at risk of further deterioration. Church leaders say the grant that had been promised would fund cleanup, stabilization and longer-term preservation work, but that funding has not moved forward as of Feb. 26, 2026.

Volunteers who maintain the burial ground have organized ad hoc responses since the storm, coordinating limited manpower from the church congregation and nearby community groups. The stalled grant has constrained their options because equipment rental, professional excavation oversight and preservation materials require funding that the church and volunteer teams do not currently have on hand. That funding gap has left tasks such as debris removal, site stabilization and documentation unresolved.

The situation raises questions about the timeline for formal preservation work at a site that community members describe as historically significant. With Tropical Storm Helene’s rainfall concentrated on Feb. 25, the need for timely intervention is immediate: unchecked erosion and standing water can accelerate damage to burial markers and soil contexts that are important to preservation. Buncombe County’s role in coordinating emergency response and historic-preservation resources will factor into whether the stalled grant is released or supplemental support is provided.

Church leaders and volunteers are planning next steps while the funding remains uncertain. Without the promised grant to cover professional cleanup and preservation, Alexander Chapel faces delays that could extend into spring and beyond, potentially increasing restoration costs and complicating efforts to protect gravesites recognized by the congregation and longtime community members. The stalled funding leaves a historic burial ground still recovering from Helene’s surge and dependent on local volunteers to stem further loss.