In the weeks after Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, people had to rely on their neighbors for everything. They shared two-way radios so they could contact loved ones, chainsaws so they could cut their way out of their hollers, as well as food and supplies. Community centers, churches, and schools became central meeting places and venues for storing and distributing resources.
These spaces, often called disaster resilience hubs, provide a central location for accessing food, water, supplies, shelter, and Wi-Fi (or other communication if internet and cell service are down) during a disaster. And two years after Helene, the network of resilience hubs has grown.
To showcase the work of the people and organizations continuing to provide resources and build community in western North Carolina, Grist worked with the Buladean Community Resource Center, an integral resource in the rural mountain area near the Tennessee border, and our partners at Blue Ridge Public Radio, or BPR, to organize a ... Read more
