One year ago, Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina, leaving devastation in its wake. Asheville and our surrounding mountain communities were tested in ways many of us had never experienced before. Roads crumbled, power grids failed, homes were lost, and our families faced uncertainty about what the next day would bring. Yet through all the hardship, our community’s resilience never wavered.
As president of Mission Health, I will never forget those first hours and days. While the storm raged outside, our halls became a lifeline. Patients who needed urgent care poured in. Families sought shelter in our lobby. Staff members who had lost homes or were cut off from loved ones showed up anyway, ready to serve.
Looking back now, a year later, I’m filled with pride in our Mission Hospital team and deep gratitude for the unity of this community. Western North Carolina did not break under Helene’s force. Instead, we leaned on one another, and together we rose…