Hayden Cheek cleans debris out of the North Toe River in Western North Carolina nearly two years after Hurricane Helene hit the area.

Hayden Cheek cleans debris out of the North Toe River in Western North Carolina nearly two years after Hurricane Helene hit the area.

Across the country, lost-and-found networks seek to reunite objects with disaster survivors. The work can take years. In some cases, it’s impossible to pick up all the pieces.

(Image credit: Juan Diego Reyes for NPR)