Asheville Schools Respond to Hurricane Helene’s Aftermath
As Asheville, North Carolina, begins to pick up the pieces following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, the local school district is stepping up to support its community in remarkable ways. Just a few days ago, the lively halls of Asheville Middle School, bustling with over 500 students, temporarily transformed into a vital water distribution center as the storm wreaked havoc, taking lives and cutting off essential services.
A Community in Crisis
Hurricane Helene was no ordinary storm. Making landfall in Florida on September 26th as a Category 4 tropical storm, it left a path of destruction across the Southeast. Sadly, over 200 lives were lost, many homes were obliterated, and the local infrastructure, including the water lines that lead to the Swannanoa River, was decimated in its wake. In Asheville, where power outages affected thousands and left many communities isolated, the situation is grim.
Upon entering Asheville Middle School, the chief of staff, Kimberly Dechant, couldn’t help but notice how different the atmosphere felt. Bottled water cases surrounded her, filling the space that would normally echo with laughter and chatter from students. She recounted seeing a teacher, who had suffered losses of her own due to the flooding, helping to distribute water bottles to those in need. “It was one of our teachers who lost part of her home and her car to the river,” Dechant shared. “So we’re very resilient.”
Communication Challenges
With schools closed indefinitely, the district is working tirelessly to locate its 4,000 students and the teachers who serve them. Communication has been a real challenge during this time, with many families cut off from traditional lines of outreach. To bridge this gap, school district leaders have relied on a variety of means including text messages, emails, and even local radio stations to share important recovery information.
In the face of the storm’s destruction, Asheville City Schools has repurposed two of its buildings not just as donation drop-off points but also as meal distribution sites, ensuring that essential supplies reach those who need them most. Meanwhile, in nearby Buncombe County, the schools have stepped in to provide shelter for first responders and linemen from across the country working to restore power and aid recovery efforts. These facilities now have portable restrooms and showers available to those serving the community in its time of need.
A Commitment to Recovery
Moreover, the transportation team from Buncombe County Schools is doing its part by volunteering school buses for emergency evacuations and delivering necessary fuel supplies to critical communication towers. The nutrition teams have also stepped up, providing meals for individuals temporarily housed in schools and local shelters. Dechant noted that what public schools offer as community resources is more important now than ever.
However, with the storm’s aftermath still rampant, academic priorities have understandably shifted to focusing on community and emotional well-being. Schools are contemplating the distribution of learning packets, similar to what was devised during COVID-19, but the immediate need focuses on assessing the well-being of families affected by the crisis.
Looking Ahead
To better gauge the needs of families, Asheville City Schools plans to distribute both online and paper surveys assessing students’ basic, social, and emotional needs. The information collected will be sent to social workers and counselors, ensuring that proper support can be provided. Dechant expressed her worry about the toll this disaster is taking on everyone: “This is a significant additional trauma, and we’re very worried. It’s a lot to process.”
As Asheville strives to recover, attention turns toward Florida, where Hurricane Milton, now a Category 5 storm, looms on the Gulf Coast. Schools in regions like Lee, Sarasota, and Manatee have preemptively closed in anticipation of this new threat, showing once again how critical it is for education systems to adapt and respond. With over 36 districts expected to close, the impacts of such storms continue to reverberate through our communities.
As communities adapt and schools act as resources of hope and care, it’s clear that resilience shines brightly even in the darkest times. Together, they will continue to rebuild and support one another through this challenging journey ahead.
