Reflecting on One Year After Hurricane Helene
We all have moments of reflection. Striking as you hike along a favorite trail, flashing as you drive past a scenic overlook, or hitting amid the most mundane of tasks. Reflections are sparked by our memories and can be turned into motivation when matched with vision and purpose. We happen to live in the type of environment where sometimes it’s the mere scenery that surrounds us that gets us lost in thought.
As people, we also tend to get sentimental and reflective around dates on a calendar. As a community, I feel like each of us have found space this week to revisit memories as we approach the one-year milestone of Hurricane Helene. These are complicated recollections because much of the heart-warming community spirit that has been on display was born from the devastation of some of our favorite places. Processing a range of emotions simultaneously has been a realistic task many have faced over the past year.
I encourage you to use reflection to think forward. As we pass this 12-month benchmark of our experience, vision for the future viability of the High Country will become an increasingly important topic of conversation. To lose the perspective of all we’ve endured and not use these moments to help inform what we aspire to be as a community would simply be a missed opportunity.
Among the silver linings we take with us from the past year is a renewed sense of community. An important part of our deep-rooted Appalachia culture is to take care of our own, and we’ve seen plenty of evidence of neighbors reconnecting with neighbors in the spirit of unity. A lasting memory of this experience centers around the young members of our community who found ways to volunteer – high school students stacking supplies, kids helping load cars, college students working to restore buildings and landscaping. All these actions help sow the seeds of a genuine attachment to where you live and the type of community steward you wish to be.
Perhaps, this time has also helped better define who makes up our extended family? We’ve seen support come from far and wide, from people that have a special connection to this place because of a formative visit, a college experience, a family connection, or for myriad other reasons. As our needs evolved, the supplies, the donations of money, volunteer hours, and the word-of-mouth sharing of our story helped us pick up the pieces much faster than we could have ever done alone. I offer a sincere thank you to all those that cared, called, organized, prayed, and sought to find whatever way was necessary to help this region during such a difficult time. We appreciate your devotion to this area and can’t wait to greet you with a hug and a handshake the next time you return.
We’ve also benefited from the intentional acts of people and organizations. Where would we be without the commitment of first responders, local non-profits, churches and other faith-based organizations, countless skilled volunteers, and local businesses who fought through their own issues to find unique ways to support the collective cause?
I remain encouraged by the renewed partnership between Appalachian State University, the Town of Boone, Watauga County, and the collaboration that has been fostered between the three entities which stretch well beyond storm recovery. Instead of being stymied by past grievances, leaders within these organizations rediscovered purpose in how important moments like these can best be navigated together. Our community has greatly benefited from this honest collaboration, and I’m excited to see what is possible as our recovery actions turn toward long-term community vision. I’m grateful that organizations and communities across our region are seeing the value of looking beyond right now, talking and planning with a goal in mind that hints at what’s possible when we work alongside one another in partnership.
I reflect on some things that may have slipped our minds over the past year. During the height of our clean-up, our winter resorts and tree farms were working hard to make repairs to ensure our attractions were ready for the return of these important seasonal guests. Governor Stein came to Boone to announce the creation of the $30 Million Public-Private Partnership to Fund Grants for Small Businesses Impacted by Hurricane Helene, which directly impacted many local businesses. The Governor’s wife, First Lady Anna Stein, visited the region to kick off #WNCOpenForBusiness week, bringing visibility to small businesses and outdoor economy drivers in Watauga and Ashe counties at the start of the summer season. We’ve had countless elected officials, dignitaries, and influencers visit Western North Carolina, helping to keep our story and our need for additional support at the front of the news cycle. We’ve cut 30 ribbons, some recovering from the storm, and some that have used this time and space to turn their dreams to reality.
We heard the whistle of Tweetsie Railroad once again, we relaxed in the setting sun of a Music in the Valle Friday night, we danced our way through Boonerang, and we returned to the rivers and trails that have brought us both enjoyment and prosperity as a region for generations.
I am continually blessed to work alongside an amazing team here at the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, each using their professional skills to make a personal connection to the community we serve. We’ve raised nearly $1.4 million through the Boone Chamber Foundation since the storm, with $1.1 million of that going directly to our Hope for the High Country Business Resiliency Disaster Grant Program. This program is designed to help businesses in Watauga, Ashe, and Avery County recover from damages, revenue loss, and other financial burdens so they can get back to what matters.
We’ve recently celebrated businesses and individuals that are the essence of the Spirit of Boone. Our work will continue as we partner with other local organizations to further the scope of the Watauga Long Term Recovery Group, and we’ll remain a strong advocate for specific needs and funding as our recovery efforts continue. We are also eager to engage the important conversations around workforce development, childcare, and attainable housing that drive economic development in our region.
It’s my hope that our elected leaders at both the Federal and State level will remember how important their actions are to recovering communities. As they negotiate their stalled budgets and continuing resolutions, I hope they don’t let political division stand in the way of the deployment of the associated funding and programs that are essential for communities like ours across the country battling back from physical and economic devastation.
Sunday morning when we wake up, we will be on the other side of the year milestone. For some, it will be a natural time to ask, “what happens next?” The vision I hope becomes reality is that we remain a connected community, and don’t let the passage of time separate us from the healing and supportive spirit which has inspired us over the past year. I hope we gain real traction in the discussions to come about community resiliency and can take cues from our local leaders about how best to use the resources coming to us to restore and enhance critical infrastructure for future generations to enjoy.
The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce staff and Board of Directors took time over the past year to reenergize our strategic framework, aligning our team with the needs of our community, both now and in the years to come. I hope you will stay engaged with us, provide the feedback we can turn to action, and I hope you find trust that no matter the circumstances, our team is committed to making Boone, Watauga County, the High Country, and all of Western North Carolina the place we all love so dearly.
Our best to each of you, your families, your businesses, and thank you to all who have found a way to leave your imprint on the story of recovery that has been captured across Western North Carolina.
Boone Area Chamber of Commerce staff, Board of Directors, and community partners for #WNCOpenforBusiness week.