Mountain Strong: An Alumna Led Hurricane Relief Effort
Dr. Kacie Renfro, a Spring 2024 EdD graduate, is helping organize hurricane relief efforts in Yancey and Mitchell Counties. Dr. Renfro, along with six other women, organized the effort to help provide relief in their home counties.
The organization’s mission states:
Mountain Strong Yancey and Mitchell County Relief is dedicated to rebuilding communities and restoring hope by providing medium-term support for families and businesses most impacted by Hurricane Helene and its aftermath. We aim to provide evolving support and relief efforts as needs change over time. By uniting the power of volunteers and the generous hearts of donors, we strive to stabilize our community and create lasting change. Ensuring that together, we rise stronger and more resilient than before.
To support or follow the continued relief efforts, you can connect with the organization through the following:
Instagram handle: @mountainstrong828
Facebook page: Mountain Strong-Yancey & Mitchell County Relief Team
We applaud Kacie for her ingenuity organizing a relief initiative to help her home community!
Hurricane Helene Resources: Current Doctoral Student Active in UNC School of Government’s Team
Current Doctorate student, Lauren Partin, has been working as part of the UNC School of Government’s team creating resources for those impacted by Hurricane Helene. One aspect of the ongoing response is maintaining a website with resources that are used by counties and municipalities across the state. Information is provided to those navigating the steps to recovery such as: funding sources, FEMA assistance, and zoning adjustments. The School of Government has made hurricane relief a top priority and has been busy sharing resources, posting faculty blogs to help navigate planning and permitting during the disaster, and hosting webinars/trainings to assist with FEMA initiatives and budgeting. The resources website can be accessed here.
We thank Lauren and the UNC School of Government team for their crucial work helping individuals navigate disaster recovery in Western North Carolina!