Hurricance Helene Support: Thank you!
Thank You!
Two words that mean everything, directed with sincerity from the heart of Boone, Watauga County, and the High Country, toward everyone that had a role in making last weekend a positive step forward for our community. It wasn’t easy nor was everything perfect. The energy, hard work, generosity, and empathy that covered these mountains last weekend served as a visible sign that many hands are helping to move us in the right direction as we continue our recovery from Hurricane Helene’s impacts.
People come here to visit, especially in the Fall, and they’ve been making their way up the mountain for generations. We asked those coming to town for the weekend to be intentional with their actions and even change some habits, to visit the favorite stores and restaurants with open arms, and to move about in a way that allows for work to progress in areas of the county where recovery efforts continue.
As we talked with business operators from around Watauga County about the weekend’s activity, not only did many report improving traffic and sales, but they also spoke of positive and thoughtful interactions. Thank you to those that went out of your way to support our local businesses by making that in-person purchase, grabbing another bite to eat (calories don’t count in the mountains), altering your tailgate activity, and for finding a way to bring a slice of Watauga County back to someone special. Your actions are keeping our businesses open, our residents employed, and our artisans pleased to see a market for their creations.
Many areas of our community have experienced measurable progress toward recovery over the last month. NCDOT crews, private construction workers, utility technicians, first responders, and volunteers remain hard at work, helping restore connections and provide essentials to residents and businesses throughout our region. Thank you to those who continue to dedicate their skills and efforts to help make life better for those who have experienced such disruption.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is at its most stunning at this time of year, and ordinarily would be the gateway to the High Country for the millions of October visitors that travel the length of the most visited National Park in the Country. Unfortunately, many areas were significantly damaged from the rain and wind caused by Helene, and some sections will take months to repair. Thanks to the quick work by the National Park Service, a 20-mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway opened last week, making Fall favorites like the Linn Cove Viaduct, Moses H. Cone Manor, and Price Park available for locals and visitors to enjoy. High Country residents also know the Parkway provides significant commuter relief on a daily basis, giving us some of the most beautiful drives to work anyone could imagine. Thanks to Superintendent Tracy Swartout and the NPS team for their opening this key section of one of our vital community assets and economic drivers.
There is still plenty of work to accomplish before all areas of our community are fully accessible. As our healing continues, it’s also realistic to note that some areas are forever changed. Thank you to those who are mindful in understanding that while one town may appear recovered, some areas still need time before visitors can be truly welcomed. As progress continues and more areas are restored, we will keep you informed.
It takes leaders to get communities through tough times, and leadership manifests itself in many ways. The continued conversations between Town of Boone, Watauga County, Appalachian State University, Watauga County Schools, local emergency management, and other officials are helping to keep a wider lens focused on our area’s recovery. We have all benefited from the resources and connections these and other groups have brought to our community at various times over the last month.
The dialogue from these conversations has helped each entity make predictive decisions about what comes next. The last few weeks have shown us that our community is stronger when we all work together and communicate with one another. Like conversations with our families, that doesn’t always mean there is agreement at every moment, but from being committed to have genuine discussions can come informed decisions that have our area’s best interests in mind. Thank you our local leaders and their commitment our citizens, our safety, and to one another during this time.
Leaders also show up for people when they are needed most. Thank you to Valle Crucis Conference Center, Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute, and Appalachian State’s Child Development Center for working quickly to provide a home to Valle Crucis School. CBS News came to our community last week to show the world how partners that are not often connected can rally around a specific need.
Each day provides hope. As I’ve said before, the people of Watauga County always rally to support one another. We’ve also been reminded that many people who visit here, fall in love with this place, and it drives them to help us in any way possible. Thank you to the thousands of friends and strangers who have offered supplies or pledged financial support over the last month. Thank you to Appalachian State University for hosting their Home Giving football game over the weekend, providing donated tickets to volunteers and utility workers, for highlighting the work that has been done to repair our community, and for shining a light on organizations that will remain committed to this area’s evolving needs for months and years to come.
Thank you to the two former Appalachian State students who had an idea to play some music with a few friends over the weekend, in the hopes it would make people feel better. Concert for Carolina brought 82,000 fans to Bank of America Stadium and raised $25 million for hurricane relief throughout Western North Carolina, including an effort to replace lost housing in Avery County. Kudos to Luke Combs, Eric Church and friends for making such a significant statement of support for your home state!
Finally, thanks to each of you who took the time to read this post. You may find a connection to one of the above stories, you may be a lifelong resident, or perhaps you are just checking in on us. We hope you continue to hold this special place close to your heart.
It’s been a long, stressful, and anxious month, and those of us that live here are only just beginning the journey toward our complete return. Know that residents and visitors alike have a chance to aid our recovery, with the smiles on your face, the swish of your skis, the tree strapped to your minivan, or by keeping your holiday purchases local to Watauga County and Western North Carolina.
Thank you for helping us work through the complexities and demands of this past weekend and know will be a little better off each time you come back up the mountain.
David Jackson
President/CEO