Photo: The Chattooga River’s Bull Sluice rapid at approximately 10 feet following rain from Hurricane Helene, September 27, 2024. Credit: Nicole Hayler
Statement from the Chattooga Conservancy regarding Hurricane Helene, 10/8/2024:
The Chattooga Conservancy offices have reopened, with power and internet restored. While we resume our operations, we understand that many parts of the Chattooga River watershed continue to feel the effects of Hurricane Helene, and we know there are much more severe impacts in the region at large.
Everyone in the path of Helene was affected, many are still without power and water, and the region as a whole continues to assess damages. Certain areas, especially in Western North Carolina (WNC), will be fully immersed in recovery efforts for the foreseeable future. It is difficult to grasp the full scale of the destruction, and new reports continue to emerge from communities and individuals who were previously cut off from service. For perspective, refer to this post by a Water Resource Engineer, estimating that Hurricane Helene constitutes a “cataclysmic” 30,000-year storm event for that area.
Western North Carolina includes and extends beyond the upper reaches of the Chattooga River watershed. We feel a profound connection to these impacted communities, not only through our common Blue Ridge geography but also through a shared Appalachian ethos. It is heartbreaking and perplexing, loving our landscape and yet witnessing the destructive power of rivers and forests like ours when they are subject to the force of a climate disaster.
To our members and friends who have reached out: thank you. We, our staff, and their immediate families are safe. What our office experienced in Mountain Rest, South Carolina, pales in comparison to the scenes of utter devastation we are seeing from areas just north of us.
To our local community, who came together and steadfastly showed up in mutual support: your empathy and resilience are inspiring. Please continue to check on your neighbors. While our information is limited, we know there are still those out of power/water/service, not only in WNC, but elsewhere in the Chattooga River watershed and throughout the Southeast.
To all who have the means and want to help the hardest-hit areas in WNC recover: consider donating money or emergency supplies to organizations providing on-the-ground relief to these communities. Groups providing WNC Helene aid that Chattooga Conservancy staff trust and recommend are:
Dirt Road Aid
https://chattoogariver.org/dirtroadaid/
We’re excited to announce that the Chattooga Conservancy is acting as the fiscal sponsor for Katie Cahn and her team at Dirt Road Aid, as they work to provide aid to remote communities affected by Hurricane Helene. 100% OF FUNDS WILL BE UTILIZED TO PROVIDE URGENTLY NEEDED SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, AND RESOURCES TO THOSE IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HELENE. You can follow Dirt Road Aid’s work on Instagram @katiecahn.
BeLoved Asheville
https://www.belovedasheville.com/donate/
and
MANNA Food Bank
https://donate.mannafoodbank.org/
Finally, we ask for your patience as we continue to sift through evolving information about the communities and public land within the Chattooga River watershed. For now, please note current national forest conditions, available at the links below:
Nantahala National Forest, NC: https://www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc
Sumter National Forest, SC: https://www.fs.usda.gov/scnfs
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, GA: https://www.fs.usda.gov/conf
As we continue to learn about the situation and search for the best ways to support our communities, the Chattooga Conservancy will also move forward with our daily, yet increasingly urgent work, promoting climate resilience through conservation.