Sept. 27 marks the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene making landfall in the region.
The deadliest hurricane to strike the mainland United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Helene forever changed the area many ETSU students call home. As an Asheville, North Carolina, native and ETSU student, Helene affected me in more ways than one.
Aside from the obvious environmental impacts that came with Helene, there were also impacts on survivors’ mental health. These haven’t gone unnoticed.
Researchers at Baylor University surveyed people in Appalachia to determine the frequency of post-traumatic stress symptoms four to eight weeks after Helene. Their research found higher levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms among younger respondents and those who experienced home damage or loss, lost access to safe water, reported greater uncertainty during the hurricane or received less social support afterward.
For those who lived through Helene, those findings may not be surprising.
America’s perception of Appalachia has long included both negative and positive views, many of them politically charged. After Helene, outside opinions of our region became even more divisive. Additionally, many people outside Appalachia remain unaware of the progress that has been made in the region’s recovery two years later. Yes, many towns are still struggling, but the comeback for many communities has been a welcome sight for residents and neighbors alike.
Even as the region has made major strides in rebuilding towns, homes and businesses affected by Helene, people are still suffering, often in silence, with the emotions and grief they carry in the aftermath. While my family did not suffer any major loss or damage, I know close friends who lost everything, and I still grieve alongside them.
What I believe has been the hallmark of Appalachia before and after Helene, though, is community.
Many Americans struggle with their mental health, and people crave community, especially younger generations. When social media and doomscrolling drag us down, community can bring us back up.
To me, community is a necessity. Community resilience is important to natural disaster preparedness and recovery, and relationships within communities can help people respond when disasters occur.
With the state of the world today, I think everyone should have a community. It can be just as important as a generator, go bag or emergency supply of water. Disaster preparedness is not just about the physical supplies you need to keep yourself safe. It is also about the people around you.
So, when life gets ugly, keep your people close and ask for help if you need it. When times are good, connect and celebrate the wins with your people, no matter who they are.
Community is one of the reasons I love being human.
Because it’s no fun riding a roller coaster by yourself.
