Collective Efforts in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene

Photo Credit: Charlie Stumb, Watauga Yearbook

Alina Ramey, Staff Writer to The Powderhorn

Many students in Watauga county were distraught after Hurricane Helene hit. Schools were closed, and some students couldn’t leave their homes, much less their neighborhoods. As was the case for many community members, they weren't able to safely commute to work.

During the aftermath of the hurricane, numerous workplaces temporarily interrupted regular business hours in order to help out people in the community, doing things such as offering shelter, internet, and clean water.

“We opened the day after the Hurricane to serve as a warm, dry place,” said Maggie Barnes, senior and employee at Palm Berries. “People, employees, and community members could relax and charge devices.”

Many workplaces were damaged during Helene, some had been completely submerged, while others were only out of power for a short period of time. Depending on the state of the building and surrounding areas, businesses would distribute food to people who couldn’t easily access food. 

“We had an outreach program where we donated bread and soup to people who were in need or people who were volunteering,” said Elizabeth Pearce, senior and employee at Stick Boy Kitchen. “We also ran a program where if you bought a loaf of bread, you could stick it on the free bread shelf and pass it on to someone who is more in need of the food.”

Many organizations accepted volunteers, such as Watauga High School, Samaritan's Purse, and the Watauga Distribution Center. Students who were off work and school and were in a stable position in their homes flocked to these such organizations and contributed to disaster relief and recovery efforts after the storm. 

“I was beyond blessed to stay safe during the hurricane, and I was privileged to be able to volunteer,” said Barnes. “I spent the first week after the hurricane volunteering in disaster relief for Samaritan's Purse. After the first week, I divided my time between SP and the Watauga Distribution Center.”

Whether a small business or a student-run volunteer group, there was a collective effort in becoming involved. These local businesses and their employees played an especially impactful role in utilizing their resources for disaster relief. 

“We were fortunate enough to be put in a position to give back and help rebuild the community. Unfortunately, many businesses weren't as lucky as we were,” said Pearce. “I would encourage anyone, now more than ever, to shop locally. Local businesses are still suffering losses and trying to rebuild, so supporting them now is as important as ever.”