10/29/2024
We’re 33 days into the recovery process and it feels like it’s been 33 weeks. The evidence of Helene is still starkly palpable every time you turn on the faucet, walk through the neighborhood, scroll social media, trying to get around the city, etc. There is still so much clean up, repair, and rebuilding of homes, businesses, and livelihoods, it will take years before a sense of normalcy returns. Everything just feels a little harder, takes a little longer, and hope seems a little further from reach… yet life goes on. To put things into perspective, as of today, over 200 people have lost their lives, half in NC alone. NC has sustained 53 Billion dollars in damages. 160 water and sewer facilities were destroyed. 1,400 land slides occurred. 6,000 miles of roads are gone. 1,000+ bridges were washed away. 126,000 homes were lost. It’s difficult to see those numbers and carry on business as usual but that is what is expected. Despite personal loss, financial losses, infrastructure collapse, the assumption that things must be okay by now and it’s time to move on couldn’t be further from the truth. The harsh reality is that WNC small businesses need your support now more than they ever have. FEMA, the SBA, and the state of NC have already exhausted their financial resources for WNC business. We want to continue to be a donation relief provider for WNC. In order to meet those challenges and continue to help rebuild our region, we urgently need your backing now and for the months to come. Please support more our portfolio in your market! 🙏🏻🍷🩵
