Caitlin and her team at the AMY Wellness Foundation have raised millions for Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Their work goes beyond rebuilding homes, they’re partnering with other organizations to provide financial services and long-term support to ensure families truly succeed. This rare and innovative approach is exactly what Appalachia needs for lasting recovery.

Kat and Trevor, owners of Peri Social House, a boutique hotel in Black Mountain, share their story of resilience after Hurricane Helene. When the storm hit, Trevor was stranded at the hotel, unable to return to his family.

In the midst of uncertainty and limited resources, he transformed a difficult situation into something unforgettable, hosting a wedding reception that brought joy and hope to the community during a scary time.

Alyssa is the founder of Barefoot Baby and the Barefoot Baby Foundation, two organizations dedicated to bringing nature and family back to childhood, one memory at a time. In this episode, Alyssa shares how Hurricane Helene impacted her family, especially her daughter, and why it’s so important to check in with our kids when their behavior shifts. We also dive into why we love country living and the resilience it builds in families.

When Hurricane Helene hit, Star started by checking on neighbors, delivering water, and cooking meals for her neighbors.

What began as feeding 1,000 people in five days grew into a relief hub supplying farms and entire communities across multiple states.

Now, nearly a year later, she has purchased storage containers, applied for nonprofit status, and is setting up for long-term recovery and disaster relief. Her story is one of resilience, service, and how ordinary people can rise to meet extraordinary challenges.

Kaila’s husband, Ted, is a firefighter and after Helene, she lost all communication with him.
Not knowing if he was alive left her worried and scared.

While his family waited, Ted was using his swift water rescue training to save lives, navigating dangerous floodwaters and bringing people to safety. But once the rescues were done, his next mission was getting home…a battle against mudslides, downed trees, and impassable roads.

In this episode, Kaila and Ted share their powerful story of separation, service, and the fight to reunite after disaster.

Tammy witnessed the fear, panic, and emotional toll that Hurricane Helene left behind.
Many were unprepared for the devastation , and the mental weight of what they saw.

Despite the overwhelming negativity, Tammy also saw something powerful: communities coming together to help each other in their darkest hours.

Today, she dedicates much of her time to helping her community recover and rebuild. In this episode, Tammy shares her experience, her perspective on resilience, and what it truly means to support one another after disaster.

Drew Crawford is a private pilot who didn’t hesitate to step up during Hurricane Helene, flying critical supplies into devastated areas when others couldn’t.

In this episode, Drew shares what it was like navigating chaotic skies with increased air traffic, limited resources, and emotional weight from the destruction below.

He offers a rare perspective on the mental toll and risks of being a private pilot in the middle of a disaster, and what kept him going.

Jim Artman is a former Army sniper with a new mission: building stronger, more resilient communities in Western North Carolina.
Through his work with Resilient Recovery, Jim is focused on sustainable disaster recovery and long-term environmental restoration.

In this episode, Jim shares how his organization is making a real impact and why community resilience and connection are more important than ever in the face of disaster.

Kim and Portia from the McDowell Chamber of Commerce share how they stepped up to support their community after Hurricane Helene.
They discuss the devastating impact the storm had on local small businesses, many of which were destroyed or severely crippled.

In this episode, they highlight why shopping local is crucial for community recovery and why connecting with your local Chamber of Commerce can be a lifeline for small business owners during both good times and disaster recovery.

Mike shares the incredible story of being swept away while inside his cabin during Hurricane Helene.
Badly injured and alone, he faced the terrifying possibility that he might not survive.

This episode is raw, eye-opening, and a powerful testament to human resilience in the face of disaster.