Catamount Resiliency: Be the Helper
Catamount
Resiliency
Hurricane Helene tore through the mountains of Western North Carolina in late September, leaving unfathomable destruction and devastation in its path. Despite facing their own daunting circumstances, the Catamount community stepped up to help the communities of WNC during an unprecedented time of grief, loss and the unknown, displaying their resiliency and fighting spirit.
鈥淲hen I was a boy and saw scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 鈥楲ook for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.鈥欌�� This is a well-known quote by beloved television host Fred Rogers about looking for the people who spring into action when bad things happen.
Many 甜瓜视频app students, staff and faculty took it upon themselves to be those helpers after Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina Sept. 25-26, leaving catastrophic destruction in its path.
This story details some of the stories of loss and of helping, which may be hard for some readers.
Cullowhee was spared the devastation that other areas of WNC experienced. Still, WCU canceled classes and closed except for essential operations the week after the storm hit the mountains, and classes were suspended until after fall break.
More than 30% of WCU staff and faculty live in the heavily impacted areas, and more than a quarter of WCU鈥檚 student population hail from the 16 counties of WNC.
The disaster directly impacted many faculty, staff and students.
Some who do not live in Cullowhee or the local area lacked water, fuel and electricity for weeks. Some still do not have safe drinking water and will not for the foreseeable future.
Almost everyone in WNC experienced the loss of internet and cell service.
The recovery process will continue for quite some time, but the Catamount community is ready and willing to continue to be the helpers, just as they have been from the first signs of the storm, showing their resiliency despite significant adversity.
The Catamount faithful rose to the occasion, and over the last few weeks, WCU student-athletes certainly did, too.
鈥淚鈥檓 super proud of our athletic community for what they鈥檙e doing in the whole community, but it鈥檚 just awesome to see athletes give back to the community that supports them,鈥� Stewman said.
鈥淭he support here is what allows us to do what we love, so just showing our gratitude and helping when we can is worth a lot, and it鈥檚 one of the tiny, tiny ways we can say thank you for everything everyone does for us every day.鈥�
Hurricane Helene might have brought unprecedented devastation to the Appalachian Mountains, but the Catamount resiliency throughout this time is bigger and stronger than any storm.
