Cartner hopes their tree will be a symbol of resilience and resourcefulness for the people who demonstrated an “unbelievable sense of community, of generosity and giving” during Hurricane Helene.

The hand-drawn sign bore a red hurricane symbol and a message in English and Spanish: "Beach Closed. No Access!" As Palm Beach braced for the Wednesday evening arrival of tropical storm-force winds ...

But then Hurricane Helene struck, unleashing a deadly deluge across western North Carolina, including Avery County, where Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm has stood for decades.