Dear MountainTrue Family, 

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, we’ve witnessed the incredible toughness and generosity of our community. Thank you. 

With your help, we’ve raised nearly $60,000 for our MountainStrong Recovery Fund. This includes a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina to mobilize chainsaw crews to clear trees, restore access to homes, and make way for broader clean-up efforts in parks and public spaces. 

Because of your support, MountainTrue has been able to respond swiftly to the unprecedented damage done to our Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. Already, we’ve made great strides — from leading hundreds of people on our first post-Helene river cleanups to delivering clean water and critical supplies to those most affected. See this week’s Response Roundup below to learn more about MountainTrue’s efforts.

But our work is far from done. MountainTrue is committed to restoring the vitality of our communities, the health of our rivers, and the resiliency of our forests. At the same time, we’re advocating for smarter policies that will make our region more resilient in the face of climate change and future storms.

Your donation to the MountainStrong Recovery Fund helps us tackle the challenges ahead. If you haven’t contributed yet, we hope you’ll consider making a gift today. Together, we can rebuild our region to be stronger, healthier, and even better than before the storm.

Thank you for standing with us.

With deep gratitude,

Bob Wagner 

Executive Director

MountainTrue’s Roundup: Responding to Hurricane Helene

Clean Waters Team

French Broad Riverkeeper Hartwell Carson (top) with cleanup volunteers in Asheville’s River Arts District last Friday, October 11. 

French Broad Riverkeeper

Last Friday, the French Broad Riverkeeper team held their first cleanup in Asheville’s River Arts District, with hundreds of community members showing up to lend a helping hand; over 650 bags of trash were collected and our dedicated cleanup group made a noticeable improvement in the area! The team also conducted their first round of well water testing after distributing testing kits in Candler, NC, with 50 samples tested so far. Because of high demand, our team will once again be distributing free well-testing kits to folks in locations around WNC tomorrow, Thursday, October 17. Here’s the info:

If your well has been flooded or flood waters pooled around your well, then we recommend having your well tested for bacteria pollution. We don’t recommend testing every well and there aren’t resources to test every well, so we’re asking that just wells that were flooded be tested. Pick up your well testing kit from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and return it by 3 p.m. on 10/17 at the following locations; we’ll provide you with all the necessary equipment and instructions for well sampling and we’ll have results ready the next day.

     ✔️ Burnsville – Roses parking lot (120 Reservoir Rd, Burnsville, NC)

     ✔️ Hot Springs Elementary School (63 N Serpentine Ave, Hot Springs, NC)

     ✔️ Fairview – Food Lion parking lot (1350 Charlotte Hwy, Fairview, NC)

     ✔️ Barnardsville Fire Station (100 Dillingham Rd, Barnardsville, NC)

     ✔️ Hendersonville – Jackson Park (801 4th Ave E, Hendersonville, NC)

     ✔️ Canton First Baptist Church (208 Academy St, Canton, NC)

Be sure to follow the French Broad Riverkeeper on Instagram and Facebook for ongoing updates. 

Watauga Riverkeeper

The Watauga Riverkeeper Team has continued to distribute water, water filters courtesy of Wine to Water, medical and other relief supplies to folks in the High Country. The team conducted their first round of well water testing, with over 35 samples processed so far. 

Opportunities to get involved + upcoming well testing kit distribution dates: (please note that all volunteer opportunities are subject to change based on weather and circumstances)

     ✔️Thursday, October 17: We’ll be meeting at 9 a.m. at the Wine To Water Warehouse (689 George Wilson Road, Boone, NC) and then heading to         the cleanup location. Register here. 

**Trash cleanups last from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on 10/17 and 10/19, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on  10/22 and 10/24; Lunch will be provided for volunteers on 10/17, 10/19 and 10/22. Limited PPE (such as waders, boots, gloves, eye protection, and face masks) can be provided. We suggest that volunteers bring their own water, snacks, and PPE just in case. We’re capping this first cleanup at 30 volunteers.

     ✔️Friday, October 18: The team will be at the Tennessee/NC State Line Resource Center (11878 US-421, Trade, TN) to continue distributing well testing kits for flooded wells from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

**State line resource station open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. all days EXCEPT for Wednesday and Sunday. Please use their Linktree to coordinate volunteer needs and supply drops.

     ✔️Saturday, October 19: We’ll be meeting at the Wine To Water Warehouse (689 George Wilson Road, Boone, NC) and then heading to the cleanup location. Register here.

     ✔️Tuesday, October 22: We’ll be meeting at Brookshire Park (250 Brookshire Rd, Boone, NC 28607) from 1-4 p.m. and working to collect litter and form debris piles from the river, banks, trails, and green spaces. Register here.

     ✔️Thursday, October 24: We’ll be meeting at Boone Greenway/Clawson-Burnley Park (355 M.L.K. Jr. St, Boone, NC 28607) from 1-4 p.m. and working to collect litter and form debris piles from the river, banks, trails, and green spaces. Register here.

Local Debris and Channel Migration Survey: as a part of our efforts to build a new mental map and understand how to best rehabilitate our rivers moving forward, we would like to know about how your section of river has been impacted by Hurricane Helene. Please include descriptions and pictures of any cars, fallen trees, new boulders, other large debris, and/or channel migration that has changed or impacted the river/stream on your property within the Watauga, New, and Elk river watersheds. Before and after pictures are greatly appreciated, if possible. Take the survey here.

Be sure to follow the Watauga Riverkeeper on Instagram and Facebook for ongoing updates.

Taking water samples on the Broad River near Shelby, NC.

Broad Riverkeeper

Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell has been conducting regular water sampling throughout the Broad River Watershed. Be sure to follow David on Instagram and Facebook for regular updates on water sampling results. Here’s an update from last Thursday, October 10:

On Thursday morning, we received confirmation from the NC Department of Environmental Quality that Lake Lure’s wastewater treatment plant was severely damaged by floodwaters, resulting in raw sewage spilling into the Broad River. We immediately went out to take water samples and run analyses in our lab. From a sample taken 1/2 mile below the lake, last week’s results showed excessive bacteria levels. Further downstream at Grays Road and Coxe Road accesses, and at the Broad River Greenway, bacteria levels were fairly low. We advise river users to not enter the water at this time. Not only is high bacteria a safety risk, but there is a lot of dangerous debris moving downstream, which you cannot see due to high turbidity. We’ll be continuing to monitor water quality over the next two to four weeks and will keep you posted. Stay safe and look after your neighbors.

Taking water samples on the Green River in Saluda, NC.

Green Riverkeeper

This past week, Green Riverkeeper Erica Shanks has been assisting with well water testing and thoroughly sampling sites Green River access sites to determine bacteria levels. Last Thursday, water sampling showed low E. coli readings at several sites, which is amazing news! In the coming weeks, Erica will send additional water samples to an outside lab for chemical testing. MountainTrue and community partners still ask that you stay out of the river at the moment while we do more testing. Be sure to follow Erica on Instagram and Facebook for ongoing updates. 

We’re still having our open house celebration next Thursday, October 24, from 5-7 p.m. at our new office location in Saluda, NC! Come out to see the new space, mingle with fellow MountainTrue supporters, build new relationships, and support local businesses in the area.

We’ll have snacks from Sara’s Event Services, drinks donated by Oskar Blues and served by Spruce and Pine Bar Company, music from local fiddlers and banjo players, and live painting by local artist, Kristen Mode, co-owner of EARThly Minds Gallery— you don’t want to miss it!

No RSVP is required but we will have a limited number of free snacks and drinks (limit 2 drinks per person).

Volunteer Safety Reminder: Always Wear Your PPE During Cleanups!

As more volunteers participate in river clean-ups and other recovery activities, many will be coming into contact with mud, sludge, sediment, and dust left behind by the storm. These materials may contain higher levels of pollutants and contaminants, so it’s important to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself.

To work safely, we recommend using the following personal protective equipment (PPE):

     ✔️Rubber boots that can be easily cleaned to prevent cross-contamination.

     ✔️Rubber gloves to protect your hands from direct contact with contaminated materials.

     ✔️N95 masks (or better) to reduce inhalation of harmful dust and particles.

     ✔️Long sleeves to protect your arms from direct contact with potentially harmful substances.

     ✔️Waterproof bandages to cover any cuts or abrasions, reducing the risk of infection.

     ✔️Safety glasses or goggles to shield your eyes from mud particles and dust.

After your clean-up activities, be sure to shower as soon as possible to remove any remaining contaminants from your skin and clothing. Given the lack of running water in many areas, you may want to arrange your shower plans before signing up for a clean-up. It’s also a good idea to make sure you are up to date on your tetanus shot. 

By following these guidelines, you can help ensure your safety while helping our community recover.

Resilient Forests Team

MountainTrue and Wildwood Consulting cleaning up debris in Woodfin Riverside Park.

Our team has organized chainsaw crews comprised of professional sawyers to begin clearing areas in public parks around Buncombe County. This week, those crews began working at Woodfin Riverside Park, Ledges Whitewater River Park, Walnut Island, and helping residents in Reems Creek and Bakersville.

Public Lands updates:

     ✔️Please note that all Buncombe County parks remain closed at this time.

     ✔️Pisgah National Forest, Dupont State Forest, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and most of the State Parks in the Western Region remain closed.

     ✔️Nantahala National Forest and Smoky Mountains National Park in Swain County, NC, are mostly open. Please visit those areas if you are seeking to commune with wild nature. 

Healthy Communities Team

Healthy Communities Director Chris Joyell and Organizer Nancy Díaz have been working with local organizations and communities to continue to distribute supplies and raise awareness of relief aid availability around Buncombe and Henderson counties. Nancy has helped complete over 300 FEMA assistance applications for families living in mobile home parks and other vulnerable communities in Henderson County. 

Yesterday, the LG Laundry facility at the St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville concluded its services and moved on to help those recovering from Hurricane Milton in Florida. The LG Laundry facility completed over 1,500 loads of laundry while they were here — a heartfelt thanks goes out to Christina Wright and her team at LG Electronics, whose generosity and tenacity brought comfort to over 1,000 families in their time of need. Additional shower and laundry resources are available at the following locations in Buncombe County:

     ✔️Asheville Farmstead School (218 Morgan Cove Rd, Candler, NC 28715) – showers

     ✔️Maple Ridge Baptist Church (133 Medford Branch Rd, Candler, NC 28715) – showers + laundry available Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

     ✔️Walmart (60 Airport Rd, Arden, NC 28704) – showers available daily 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

     ✔️YMCA Biltmore Park (3 Town Square Blvd, Asheville, NC 28803) – showers available daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Creation Care Alliance (CCA)

CCA Director Sarah Ogletree has been matching impacted congregations in remote areas with resources and volunteers from unaffected faith communities through the CCA network. This work continues to grow and currently serves to connect the following faith communities: 

     ✔️St. John’s Episcopal Church (Sylva), 

     ✔️First Baptist Church (Sylva), 

     ✔️Ochre Hill Baptist Church (Sylva), 

     ✔️Portico Church (Charlottesville, VA), 

     ✔️First Presbyterian Church (Spruce Pine), 

     ✔️Cloudland Baptist Church (Glen Ayre), 

     ✔️Roan Mountain Baptist Church (Bakersville)

In addition to organizing congregational mutual aid, Sarah is working alongside Mitchell County Emergency Services, local organizations, and various partners to ensure that rural communities devastated by Helene continue to receive support. If your congregation would like to participate in CCA’s Helene response OR receive relief via the CCA network, please fill out this quick survey. Updates regarding this work are posted frequently on the Creation Care Alliance Facebook page. 

Western Region Team

While most of the Western Region escaped the worst of the storm, Haywood County was hit hard. Our Western Region team, led by Western Regional Director Callie Moore and MountainTrue Board Member Katherine Taaffe, has continued to collect and deliver relief supplies and volunteer to support ongoing distribution efforts. Click here to sign up for a volunteer shift for the Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief Distribution Center located at Woodland Baptist Church in Haywood County.