After a day and a half of torrential rain, on the morning of Friday, September 27th, 2024, Hurricane Helene landed in western North Carolina. The quantity of water and the force of the winds was unlike anything previously experienced by our remote mountainous region. The Swannanoa and French Broad Rivers crested at 25 feet above normal, significantly exceeding the previous records established during the 1916 flood. Power, water, internet, and cell service were severely impacted for weeks.

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It will take several years before our community can fully recover, and for many, that will never happen. There are numerous dancers, musicians, artists, residents, and organizations that need ongoing assistance. That also includes Warren Wilson College. Since WWC is the home of Summer Soirée, we wanted to highlight the significant effort by the staff and students to contend with the impact of Hurricane Helene. We were truly relieved when we learned that WWC could, once again, play host to Summer Soirée in 2025. If you would like to learn more or make a donation to their recovery efforts, please use the links below. 

 

Thank you! Jan, Ricky, and Dave​