In September 2024, Tropical Storm Helene devastated Western North Carolina, causing unprecedented flooding and infrastructure damage across Asheville and Buncombe County. In the wake of this disaster, something remarkable emerged: neighbors helped neighbors, community spaces transformed into distribution centers, and trusted local organizations rapidly mobilized to provide critical services. These spontaneous resilience hubs became lifelines for thousands of residents when traditional systems were unavailable or overwhelmed.
Now, we have an opportunity to learn from this organic response and learn from community and city-led storm response initiatives to build a more resilient future.
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