When Expertise Meets Community: How Black Mountain Weathered Hurricane Helene
[Updated from David - you can read his full original post here]
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene, our small town of Black Mountain—home to about 9,000 residents—faced an extraordinary challenge. Cut off from the outside world with no water, no power, and no communications, we were thrust into survival mode. Yet, what unfolded here was nothing short of remarkable: a town operating at the highest professional standards of disaster emergency management, without the dedicated staff that larger cities rely on.
How did this happen?
Three key factors made all the difference:
Trained Leadership in Unexpected Roles
Our fire department, led by Chief John Coffey, had leaders with deep training, certifications, and experience in disaster management. Though emergency management isn’t their sole responsibility, their background proved invaluable. These skills became the backbone of our response, guiding everything from rescue operations to communication strategies.Collaborative Local Leadership
Everyday respect and cooperation among our town leaders—public works director Jamey Mathews, police chief Steven Parker, town manager Josh Harrold, and Chief Coffey—laid the foundation for a seamless and effective response. Their ability to set egos aside and work together daily became a critical strength during the crisis.Community Volunteers with Disaster Expertise
Perhaps the most inspiring aspect was the expertise of community members who stepped forward. Individuals like Lisa Jennings (click here for USFS’ article for the deeper story), Heather Cotton (AICP), Steve Little (USFS fire operations), and I contributed our training and disaster management experience from other parts of the country. These weren’t just neighbors helping neighbors; they were seasoned professionals bringing invaluable skills to the table.
Lisa, for example, helped establish daily public briefings, fostering transparency and trust in local government—an achievement I’ve rarely seen in disaster responses. Heather managed logistics with precision, and Steve offered insights from decades of leading air operations in national fire disasters. My role focused on restoring communications: cellular service, internet access, and first responder networks—work I had done in larger communities during my time in Oregon and Washington.
The most humbling part? All of us live within 1.5 miles of the command post. Some of us even walked from homes damaged by Helene to contribute to the effort.
Coming Together for Resilience
This is the story of how our community came together during one of its most challenging moments. It’s about experience and expertise meeting heart and collaboration. It’s about neighbors stepping up, leaders working together, and everyone bringing their best to a devastating situation.
Rebuilding continues, and the stories of resilience grow by the day. But what happened here in Black Mountain reminds us that it’s not just about recovering what we’ve lost—it’s about building stronger, more connected communities that can face whatever comes next.
To learn more about Lisa Jennings' role during Helene, read the full USFS article here: USFS Article.
How You Can Help
If you believe in the power of the outdoors and want to see Western North Carolina thrive once again, here are ways to make a difference:
Donate to Rebuild Black Mountain Resilience Fund – Funds go directly to nonprofits working to restore trails, river access, and recreational spaces vital to the local economy.
Support WNC Strong: Rebuilding Together Grant Fund – Contributions to the WNC Strong: Rebuilding Together Grant Fund through Mountain BizWorks provides grants directly to small businesses that are the lifeblood of our community.
Invest in Zero-Interest Bridge Loans – Donations through Abundance Capital provide bridge loans to help businesses recover and restock while they await other aid sources.
Together, we can bring this region back from the brink and ensure that its businesses, natural spaces, and communities continue to inspire for generations to come.
