A Community Rises Together After Hurricane Helene

From left, George Scott, Justin Rhodes and Carol Groben with a shipping container being used to store supplies
By Emma Castleberry
Within hours of Hurricane Helene, it became clear that the community of Swannanoa faced unprecedented damage: roads were washed out, bridges collapsed and—perhaps worst of all—no one could communicate with one another. And yet, in the face of this shock and devastation, residents coordinated with remarkable speed and efficiency.
“Even though it was our first disaster of this magnitude, I don’t think anybody needed to tell people what to do,” says Carol Groben, who has lived in Swannanoa for more than 25 years. “It was incredible the way the community immediately just sprang into action.”
Before Helene, Groben was involved in a number of nonprofit efforts in Swannanoa, including Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa (FANS) and the Friends of the Swannanoa Library. In the days after the storm, she joined other residents as they gathered in Grovemont Park, a safe haven elevated above the floodwaters, where a team of community volunteers was coordinating relief efforts.
“People from the community came together to start figuring out how to help each other,” Groben says. “A very organized effort emerged there quickly, within a couple of days after the storm.”

Carol Groben. Photo by Nick Levine
Tables and booths were set up with information and supplies. People brought chainsaws to clear debris and cooked meals for those without power. It was here that the groundwork was set for a new group: the Swannanoa Grassroots Alliance (SGA).
SGA’s response began with coordinating hands-on relief, tackling everything from distributing food and water to sourcing temporary housing for displaced residents and out-of-town volunteers. Communication became crucial to ensure that there weren’t redundant efforts and that residents knew where they could find help.
“We quickly realized we needed a way to bring folks together, so we could share information and communicate effectively across the community,” says Groben. “We divided Swannanoa into geographic areas, established points of contact and created a network for communication.”
This structure enabled SGA to relay information about community needs and available resources. Through daily meetings, they gathered updates from various groups working on relief and coordinated volunteers, services and supplies. Groben is quick to note that SGA serves as a liaison for other groups that are providing direct relief services, such as music venue Silverados, Bounty & Soul and Hearts With Hands.
The organization has also been essential in managing and coordinating aid from outside the region. Volunteers from as far as Louisiana came to help. “It’s so emotionally powerful to have that kind of response from so many people who don’t even know us, but who know what we’re going through,” Groben says.
Communication became easier when cell phone and internet service reappeared, so SGA’s focus evolved alongside the community’s need. The group launched a thorough website and social media channels to keep residents updated.
SGA is now emphasizing long-term recovery by advocating for hazard mitigation and sustainable rebuilding, and tackling tasks like finding warehouse space for overflow supplies.
“This is not a short-term recovery process,” Groben says. “We’ll be recovering for years to come. We’re trying to be involved and engaged at local, state and federal levels to ensure our community’s needs and voices are heard in the rebuilding process. We want to see our community built back stronger and more resilient.”
Born from adversity, SGA stands as a testament to what seems to be a near-universal silver lining of the storm: the deep and enduring connections we share with our neighbors.
Learn more at SwannanoaGrassrootsAlliance.org.
Just got through reading “The Laurel of Asheville” was written 3 days ago. read it from my cell phone. Thanks to Everyone who has and are still helping Swannanoa and since the Hurricane. I’ve lived here all my life as well as the rest of my family. Mother& Dad are deceased as both sets of grandparents are also. But they lived in the VALLEY all their lives and I have been here my self for 82 years.