Friends and Neighbors,
On this 6 month anniversary since we woke up to the devastation and losses of Hurricane Helene, our community is now fighting wildfires.
We knew this could happen because the storm left so much debris on the forest floor and around our community, and because our reality is extremes of rain events and droughts.
I share the fear and exhaustion of climate catastrophe, the heartbreak with and for fellow survivors of Helene and the other living creatures who share our mountain home.
I’ve compiled some resources for how to prepare yourself, home, and property for wildfire. Feel free to share this newsletter or social media posts on Instagram and Facebook with your networks, and scroll through to the end for visual resources.
During Wildfire Watch:
- Pack a go bag
- Map & screenshot evacuation route
- Sign up for alerts
- Buncombe County: text BCalert to 99411 or visit alert.buncombecounty.org
- Asheville: search AVL alert and fill out form on City website
- Heed evacuation orders!
There is a lot of work ahead, but there are causes for celebration too, like the “Asheville Rising” Good Morning America coverage of our community members and ongoing recovery work! And don’t forget to remind the City to prioritize neighborhood resilience hubs, small business grants, rental assistance, and home repair/rebuild in the CDBG-DR funds–add your input here.
Be gentle with yourself and each other. Breathe. We will get through this together, #mountainstrong!
With a recovering yet grateful heart, Kim
Following resources compiled from the Red Cross, fire departments, agencies, and wildfire survivors:
En español:
