A little over a month after Helene hit WNC, UNC Asheville hosted members of the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Public Health Services to discuss the educational and emotional impacts of Helene on students, faculty and staff, learn about unmet needs, and discuss ways the federal partners could be of assistance.
Deputy Chief Compliance Officer Ingrid Valentine said they began partnering with U.S. Public Health Services to visit campuses struck by natural disasters after Hurricane Harvey in 2017, with the goal of ensuring that the universities have the support needed to be functional.
“When a disaster hits, as you know, FEMA is first on site. They are your recovery, we are more response oriented,” Valentine said. “Our job is to listen, to talk to you, and fill in the gaps.”
Valentine said she was excited to see federal partnerships already occurring, particularly UNC Asheville’s coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build a temporary water treatment system which provides safe, drinkable water to campus while the Asheville city water is still unsafe to drink.
“We have visited 300 campuses and universities thus far and you are the first to tell us that the Army Corps has been onsite,” Valentine said. “Bravo to you, that is not an easy feat.”
During their visit they received a thorough account of the University’s emergency response from the days leading up to the storm, in which emergency food, water, and supplies were purchased, to the process of caring for and relocating residential students after the University lost power, water, internet and cell service.
A description of the impact of the storm was shared including photos of the dozens of trees on campus felled by the storm, the damage to campus buildings and property, and testimonials of two students who were on campus when the storm hit, and from a staff member who experienced a loss of housing due to Helene.
The students and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Meghan Harte Weyant discussed the issues with academic continuity presented by the storm, including the barriers keeping students from returning to campus.
After the meeting, the contingent joined Director of Emergency Management Matt Petty to view the water treatment system built by the U.S. Army Corps as well as a driving tour of the River Arts District, a vibrant area of town populated with art galleries, shops, restaurants, and breweries that experienced devastating flooding during the storm.
Chancellor Kimberly van Noort said the support from a variety of federal and state agencies has been instrumental to the success of UNC Asheville’s recovery after Helene.
“Instead of one person trying to do everything there has been the knowledge that we need subject matter experts at the table,” van Noort said. “This has been a real testament to the way our federal partners have been able to respond and help us in their areas of expertise.”
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