After Helene
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(This is a work in progress. I have more reporting trips to Asheville planned.)
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, North Carolina’s most destructive and deadly hurricane in over a century, there was a robust mobilization of autonomous groups in the Asheville area that filled the gap left by an inadequate federal response. These volunteer groups performed search and rescue, distributed food, water, and supplies—and they are now central to the cleanup and rebuilding efforts.
Some of these groups pre-existed the hurricane, including Rural Organizing and Resilience (ROAR), while others, like BeWell and Valley Strong Disaster Relief, formed in its immediate aftermath. The Appalachian spirit of self-reliance transcended political divides: groups composed of anarchist punks and conservative Christians performed the same kind of lifesaving work, though they describe it with different language.
Working together with their lives upended (many lost their homes, and some lost friends or family members), tight communities formed, and people across cultural boundaries built a temporary society based on giving and care.
The question is: what happens now? The most acute phase of relief is over, and many people have returned to their regular jobs. This is a moment of limbo. Though the suffering caused by the disaster cannot be understated, nearly everyone I spoke with described the last few months as the most meaningful of their lives: a rupture in the capitalist status quo and a window into a kinder society. Many formed book groups to read “A Paradise Built in Hell,” a book by Rebecca Solnit that examines the altruistic communities that form after disasters. There is a bittersweetness about the prospect of life returning to “normal,” and a striving to keep the solidarity and community spirit going.
Where does this energy go? Does Asheville and the surrounding area go back to “normal,” or will there be some lasting positive changes? Will Asheville be more resilient and ready for the next disaster? Can other cities learn from its community-based response? These are are the questions I’m exploring with this project.