App State Reflects: One Year After Helene
When Hurricane Helene damaged and disrupted Western North Carolina in September 2024, it also revealed the incredible strength of our communities. Countless acts of kindness, courage and collaboration marked the response, and Mountaineers — staff, faculty, students and alumni — stepped up in remarkable ways, embodying the “Mountain Strong” spirit at the heart of our region.
Appalachian State University is committed not only to helping our community rebuild but also to strengthening resilience for future challenges. Faculty, staff and students are actively leading and engaging in work through research and partnerships to shape a safer, stronger North Carolina.
Learn more about App State's role in the ongoing recovery, and discover how our community is building back stronger, together.
In the weeks ahead, we invite you to reflect on how App State and our neighbors in Watauga and surrounding counties showed mountain resiliency, supported one another in a time of need and began carving a path toward a stronger future.
Aid and Impact
In the days and weeks following Hurricane Helene, students, faculty and staff at App State, alumni, and state leaders stepped up to help the community and campus, even as many managed storm-related challenges in their own lives. The following figures offer a glimpse into the monumental impact of their collective efforts.
App State students and volunteers surveyed 30 sites in the New, Watauga and Nolichucky rivers this summer to assess eastern hellbender populations. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Research for Recovery and Resilience
Hurricane Helene’s cascading effects swept through Western North Carolina’s communities, landscapes and institutions. In response, Appalachian State University has partnered with regional leaders to align research expertise with community needs — work that supports recovery today and builds resilience for tomorrow.
Last spring, App State hosted the WNC Research for Recovery and Resilience Workshop, convening nearly 100 academic, business, government and community partners to chart strategies for long-term recovery and future preparedness.
Community Outreach and Partnerships
App State continues to work alongside community and state partners to support a collective recovery effort. The initiatives that follow are just a few examples of how App State students, faculty, staff and alumni have volunteered and collaborated with the community to respond to, recover from and document Hurricane Helene.
In Words and Images: One Year Since Helene
This collection of words and images reflects on the year since Hurricane Helene, capturing the storm's impacts, the response from university staff, faculty and students, and our community’s enduring spirit.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, App State students rallied to help their High Country neighbors — from daring rescues and digging out trapped residents to volunteering with storm cleanup and repairs. Above, students volunteer with cleanup at an area river outfitter during a Day of Service on Oct. 19, 2024. That day, around 175 students collectively completed over 500 hours of community service at 15 organizations and locations across the High Country. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
On Sept. 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene — combined with a band of heavy rain before the storm — dropped upwards of 30 inches of rain across the Southern Appalachians and around 10 to 20 inches of rain across most of the High Country. Pictured is a view outside of App State’s Rankin Science Building after the storm, an area that was heavily impacted by flooding. Photo by Wes Craig and Chase Reynolds
“App State staff have been working around the clock to prepare for, and then respond to, Hurricane Helene. Some of our staff members have significant damage to their homes, and some haven’t seen their families since the storm began — yet, they are focused on serving others. We are operating with a smaller than usual essential staffing team, because some — despite wanting to be here — cannot get here to help.”
— Sept. 28, 2024, message to campus from Chancellor Heather Norris
At App State, several academic buildings sustained significant water damage from flooding, including Rankin Science Building (pictured), Walker Hall, Varsity Gym and the academic areas of Holmes Convocation Center. Thanks to restoration and cleanup, all academic buildings except Rankin West were able to reopen when classes resumed on Oct. 16, 2024. Photo by Chase Reynolds
In the weeks after the storm, leaders from the Town of Boone, Watauga County, App State and the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce communicated regularly, working together to respond to the needs of the community. App State Chancellor Heather Norris, second from right, is joined by (left to right) Boone Mayor Tim Futrelle, N.C. Rep. Ray Pickett and Watauga County Emergency Services Director Will Holt at a joint press conference at App State’s McKinney Alumni Center on Oct. 1, 2024. Photo by Chase Reynolds
App State Chancellor Heather Norris, far right, speaks with members of App State’s Facilities Operations team as they take a break from their cleanup efforts on the Boone campus to grab a bite to eat in Central Dining Hall. Photo by Chase Reynolds
App State student-athlete Isabela Romanichen, a member of App State's tennis team from Curitiba, Brazil, assists in removing floodwater from a classroom in App State’s Holmes Convocation Center on the Boone campus. Photo by Troy Tuttle
“I know there are many who are not yet able to read this message, and that many are still actively working to get in contact with their loved ones in the area. Please know we are working to fully leverage every resource available to the university to assist our campus and surrounding community. Please help share this information with those who don’t have electronic connectivity.”
— from Chancellor Heather Norris’ Oct. 1, 2024 message to faculty, staff and students
Holmes Convocation Center staff and many others from areas across the Boone campus, App State and the American Red Cross coordinated to open an emergency shelter in the Holmes Center, which offered food, water and dry beds to campus and local community members impacted by the hurricane. A total of 470 combined overnight stays were documented during the shelter’s operation, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 10, 2024.
In this photo, App State Chancellor Heather Norris, left, and North Carolina Rep. Ray Pickett, who represents NC District 93 (Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga counties), center, speak with an individual at the shelter. Pickett visited App State on Oct. 2, 2024, for an assessment tour of the damages App State’s Boone campus sustained from Hurricane Helene. Photo by Troy Tuttle
App State’s Mountaineer Medics, who are App State students with Emergency Medical Technician credentials, provided free health care services and emergency medical coverage 24 hours per day for shelter clients and campus community members, helping free up resources for broader community response. Pictured Oct. 3, 2024, then-North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, second from left in foreground, speaks with members of App State’s Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management (EHS&EM) team, including EHS&EM Director Jason Marshburn, fourth from left in foreground, and members of App State’s Mountaineer Medics program. Photo by Chase Reynolds
From left to right, U.S. Sen. Ted Budd, North Carolina Rep. Destin Hall, App State Chancellor Heather Norris and N.C. Rep. Ray Pickett talk while surveying the Hurricane Helene-inflicted damages to the university’s Holmes Convocation Center on Oct. 3, 2024. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
The staff of App State Campus Dining, along with volunteers from across the university, worked throughout the university’s closure to prepare and serve hot meals to campus and community members in need, free of charge. Over 80,000 meals were served from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11, 2024. Photo by Troy Tuttle
“When something like Hurricane Helene hits, making sure everyone has a hot meal and a place to gather becomes more important than ever. It’s not just about food — it’s about showing up for each other.”
— Elizabeth Riede, Executive Director of Campus Dining
App State Campus Dining Executive Director Elizabeth Riede, left, and Chancellor Heather Norris display Mountain Strong T-shirts at App State’s Central Dining Hall in early October 2024. Over 80,000 hot meals were served to community members from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11, 2024. Thanks to a partnership with Boone’s Mountaineer Mania, owned by alumni Preston Powell ’01 and Adam Scherer ’01, all proceeds from Mountain Strong apparel have been donated to meet critical university needs since Hurricane Helene. Photo by Megan Hayes
App State quickly organized a Disaster Relief Hub, supported by App State employees and volunteers. Over three weeks, the hub served nearly 5,400 students, faculty and staff, distributing over $4 million in short-term bridge funds and providing counseling, academic, housing, legal, financial aid and insurance support. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
“I had one student who needed to replace his glasses. Others needed help finding temporary housing or putting money down to rent a new apartment. Many students do not have rental insurance, or it does not cover floods. I met with a faculty member who lost all of her shoes, her appliances and all of her children’s toys because they were kept on the first floor. The list can go on, and the stories are real.”
— Judy Haas, App State Dean of Students
Adriane Brooks, business officer in the student engagement and leadership area of App State Student Affairs, right in foreground, works with an App State Community member in the university’s Disaster Relief Hub at the Boone campus. The hub operated from Oct. 1 to Oct. 18, 2024. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Many App State faculty and staff contributed their time and expertise to the Disaster Relief Hub. Walker College of Business faculty members Dr. David Marlett, Jamie Parson and Austin Eggers were among those on hand to assist Mountaineers at the hub, where they helped students, staff and faculty better understand their insurance coverages and prepare their FEMA applications. The trio also prepared an insurance education document utilized by other volunteers and App State employees who helped staff the relief hub. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
“Working in the emergency hub gave the financial aid team an opportunity to connect with and help our student population in a time of real need. Being able to relieve even a small amount of the stress was so important! I am proud of the way the school and community pulled together to support each other.”
— Sheila Burleson, App State Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid
Lineworkers at App State New River Light and Power (NRLP) were in the field before, during and after Hurricane Helene, working around the clock to restore power and keep lines of communication open — and did so amid dangerous conditions, including downed trees and mudslides. Approximately 70% of NRLP’s 9,000 customers lost power on Sept. 27. The utility restored power to 85%–90% of customers the next day, with full restoration to safe and habitable structures achieved by Oct. 3. In this photo, Alan Byrd, NRLP operations superintendent, and NRLP lineworker apprentice Finley Hodges work among downed trees to restore power. Photo courtesy of App State New River Light and Power
NRLP’s power restoration efforts were supported by teams from Wilson Energy, Washington Electric Utilities and Lexington Utilities — all North Carolina public power utilities who answered NRLP’s call for mutual aid through coordination with ElectriCities of N.C. App State’s electric utility also assisted Blue Ridge Energy in its efforts to restore power to the cooperative’s more than 29,000 customers in Watauga County. Photo courtesy of App State New River Light and Power
“It was great to see how the community really came together, to really help everybody out. Whenever we went to [help] Blue Ridge [Energy], we were out in the county, bridges were washed out everywhere, and there are houses off foundations. [We saw] how devastated everything was and just how appreciative everybody was whenever we did get there, and how much that meant to them.”
— Finley Hodges, NRLP lineworker apprentice
In the wake of the historic and devastating storm, App State students, faculty and staff stepped up to help those in need — both on and off campus, and during and after the disaster. In this photo, then-App State sophomore Blanca Serrano, of Durham, a building sciences major and student volunteer coordinator in Watauga Residential College, volunteers at Cornerstone Summit Church in Boone, organizing donated hurricane relief items. She was one of approximately 175 App State students who took part in the university’s Student Day of Service - Together We Are Mountain Strong, held Oct. 19, 2024, to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts in the High Country following Hurricane Helene. Photo by Chase Reynolds
App State’s Scott Varga, a first-year cybersecurity major from Pinehurst at the time, carries wood while volunteering at Grace Builders Woodlots as part of university’s Student Day of Service - Together We Are Mountain Strong, held Oct. 19, 2024. Photo by Chase Reynolds
“Students saw the kind of damage that occurred outside of campus. To learn firsthand about the needs of the community and what they’re dealing with, and to be able to pitch in and help, can be such a positive experience.”
— Dr. Brent James, assistant director of community engagement in the Office of Community-Engaged Leadership
Riley Edwards’ internship with Bigfoot Builders put him on the front lines of a natural disaster response in the days after Helene devastated the High Country. Edwards — at the time a senior building sciences-construction management major — had been working with the Boone-based construction company since summer 2024. Bigfoot Builders rallied its workers together to transport supplies and begin rebuilding areas in Avery and Watauga counties that were significantly impacted by the hurricane. In this photo, volunteers with Bigfoot Builders, including Edwards, work to repair a driveway at a home in the Cove Creek area. Photo submitted
Dr. Amber Welborn, assistant professor in App State’s Department of Nursing, led a group of students who volunteered to sort medical supplies to be delivered via aircraft at the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Regional Airport. Pictured from left to right in the back row are Welborn, nursing major Jesse Gargis, exercise science major Noah Foy, nursing major Caitlyn Moore, nursing major Ella Pyatt and nursing major Eli Dowler. Shown from left to right in the front row are nursing major Morgan Haines and Welborn’s daughter Olivia. Photo submitted
“I’m not just here to go to school — I’m here to be a part of this community.”
— Cait Kinnamon, an environmental geology major from Winston-Salem, who created a spreadsheet to organize resources and recruit volunteers, which she shared on her social media pages, and who volunteered at local food pantries and distribution sites
App State students, including App State football student-athletes Seth Robertson, of Madison, Georgia, second from left, Jason Chambers, of Charlotte, third from left, Ethan Johnson, of Huntersville, second from right, and Luke Lair, of Wake Forest, far right, are shown along King Street in downtown Boone. The students volunteered through Baptists on Mission at First Baptist Church in Boone, which served as a drive-thru meal pickup site for those affected by Hurricane Helene. One student holds a sign that reads “Free Meals.” Photo by Troy Tuttle
App State reopened at 5 p.m. on Oct. 11, 2024, after being closed for more than two weeks — one of the longest closures in the university’s history. Classes resumed on Oct. 16, 2024. Photo by Chase Reynolds
“The scars left on our beloved landscape by Hurricane Helene remind us that the impacts of this storm have left scars on each of us as well. Some are deeper and more visible; others are minor and already healing. In a community of 24,000 people on two campuses and online, whose members live, work and learn in communities that were hard hit and some that were less so, the consequences for each of us have been different, and recovery for each of us will be different.”
— from Chancellor Heather Norris’ Oct. 11, 2024, message to students, faculty and staff
App State received many thank-you messages from campus and local community members for the resources and support the university provided in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Shown in App State’s Central Dining Hall are thank-you cards, as well as a poster that reads: “Thank you for everything y’all are doing!” Photo by Kyla Willoughby
In App State’s first home football game held after Helene — on Oct. 26, 2024 — App State used the opportunity to rally fans around the theme of “HomeGIVING.” This effort raised thousands of dollars for the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Quiet Givers. These organizations supported local small businesses, child care services and provided gap services for needs not being met through existing funds or programs. Photo by Chase Reynolds
On Nov. 19, 2024, App State hosted a Community Appreciation Meal, a free seasonal dinner to once again welcome members of the local community to the university’s Central Dining Hall. Another Community Meal is planned for Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
Retired NFL player Jason Kelce attended App State’s homecoming football game at Kidd Brewer Stadium on Nov. 23, 2024. Kelce, who was decked out in black and gold overalls to support the Mountaineers, tailgated and took photos with fans before the game, and at halftime, he spoke on the field to hype up the crowd. A crew documented Kelce’s visit and interviews with App State Community members for a film shared on Kelce’s YouTube channel in December 2024. He is pictured with App State Chancellor Heather Norris. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
WATCH: Mountain Strong: How App State Football United a Community After Disaster
Just over two months after Helene disrupted classes and campus operations, App State celebrated its fall commencement ceremonies, with more than 1,500 students graduating in December 2024. Photo by Chase Reynolds
“Class of 2024, today marks a significant milestone not just in your academic journey, but in your lives. For some, this is your first formal, in-person commencement ceremony after your high school graduations were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. And you faced adversity, again, this fall, when App State and our region experienced one of the most significant natural disasters in our 125-year history. This ceremony is not just a celebration of your academic success but also of the resilience and perseverance you have shown in the face of unprecedented challenges.”
— Chancellor Heather Norris, addressing graduates at the Fall 2024 Commencement ceremonies
Months after Hurricane Helene disrupted the fall semester, App State announced a 2.2% increase in spring 2025 enrollment numbers compared with spring 2024. In addition to setting a record for spring enrollment, App State’s retention of first-year students from the fall to spring semester was 94.4%, a five-year high. University leaders credited the efforts of faculty and staff, including increased intervention steps for dropout prevention, as well as campus and state funding support and resources. Above, students learn about clubs and organizations at App State during the university’s 2025 Winter Club Expo, held Jan. 22, 2025. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
On Jan. 27, 2025, App State’s Pathways to Resilience QEP hosted a Community Resilience Forum to hear from community leaders about disaster response and resilience after Helene. Participants were invited to come early to share their post-Helene stories, including their perspectives on our community’s resilience and who they saw as community heroes in the aftermath of Helene. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
App State convened nearly 100 regional leaders at the WNC Research for Recovery and Resilience Workshop in April 2025, setting priorities for community-driven research in housing, infrastructure, health, education, environment and economic revitalization. Photo by Kyla Willoughby
To honor Western North Carolina graduates’ achievements and resiliency in the wake of Hurricane Helene, Gov. Josh Stein delivered remarks at the commencement ceremonies of Appalachian State University, Western Carolina University and Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College on May 9 and 10, 2025. Above, Stein provides congratulatory remarks to App State Class of 2025 graduates during the commencement ceremony for App State’s College of Arts and Sciences, held May 9, 2025, in Holmes Convocation Center on the Boone campus. Photo by Chase Reynolds
“The resilience you all have demonstrated through your years of college — especially this year — is impressive and inspiring. You are going to encounter many more obstacles in your life, but you can think back to this moment, this accomplishment, and be confident in your ability to overcome them.”
— North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, addressing App State graduates on May 9, 2025
Research related to Helene’s impacts, as well as recovery and future resilience, is ongoing at App State. Sophie Ryan ’23, a climate and health research fellow, left, and Dr. Maggie Sugg, associate professor and honors program director, both in App State’s Department of Geography and Planning, are researching the mental health impacts of Hurricane Helene on community responders. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Dr. William Wang, assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Planning, is launching a three-year effort using AI to enhance flood models that incorporate the High Country’s unique topography, local resilience challenges and social factors to create more actionable data. The improved information stands to assist homeowners, emergency responders and policymakers in creating more accurate assessments and better preparing for future flood events. Photo courtesy of Dr. William Wang
From left to right, Emily Gillikin ‘24, biology graduate student Hutch Whitman and Hunter Comeford ‘24 survey the New River in summer 2025 to assess the impacts of Hurricane Helene on hellbender populations. Photo by Chase Reynolds
“Helene highlighted vulnerabilities but also shone a light on the vast opportunities to develop a more robust and creatively resilient economic landscape for Western North Carolina. The collective response to this crisis and the sustained momentum we are seeing have highlighted how powerful it is when App State leans into our regional relationships, partnering to leverage key areas of our research excellence to build a brighter and stronger future for our region.”
— Dr. Christine Hendren, vice chancellor of research and innovation at App State
Events This Month
Across the High Country, communities will come together this month to reflect on Hurricane Helene’s impacts and to honor our region’s ongoing recovery.
App State Events
Appalachian Energy Center
Appalachian State University
Community Events
Blowing Rock Art & History Museum
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
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