1 Year Since Helene: Inside McGill’s Ongoing Response
Before Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina, Southeast Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia, there was significant rainfall. The French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers, among others, were taller than normal. There were warnings about driving on flooded roads and knowing when to turn the car around. There were warnings about dangerous, life-threatening winds and waters, but no one really knew what reality lay on the other side of those warnings, and Hurricane Helene was devastating for the region.
One Year Since Helene
Somehow, it has been a year since Helene. A year ago, we were unaware of the ways in which the landscape would shift; we were unaware of the ways in which people’s lives would change. For some, the change would be irreversible. For others, the change required a lot of grit, sadness, confusion, and hope. Since Helene, we have been focused on finding ways to make positive changes in the aftermath of disaster. Now more than ever, it feels crucial to support communities throughout the Southeast. As we reflect on what has happened in the last year, we feel thankful to have had the ability to help so many of our clients start to rebuild their communities.
McGill’s Support
In addition to responding urgently to client needs, McGill focused on providing support for our employees and their families. For those living in the affected areas, the days after Helene were a blur, blending together with the confusion and stress of life after a disaster. Like much of the Asheville area, the office, which is located just north of downtown Asheville, was without water and power for a bit.
In order to support our clients and their communities, McGill had to figure out the best way to support the employees. After Helene, Andy Lovingood, McGill’s president, introduced three recovery teams that would provide McGill employees, operations, and clients with the necessary support. These recovery teams were comprised of employees who had volunteered to help.
Employee Recovery
The employee recovery team was in charge of connecting with each employee to ensure safety in the aftermath of the storm. This team also led the efforts of providing water, food, and other basic essentials to employees in need. For example, the offices in the central and eastern parts of North Carolina gathered supplies in their individual offices, which were transported to the Hickory office and then brought into Asheville. These materials, which consisted of bottled water, non-perishable food, baby supplies, and feminine hygiene products, among much else, were put in the Asheville office conference room and could be used by employees or distributed to employees’ families, communities, or other known people in need.
Operations Recovery
The operations recovery team was focused on figuring out how to provide a workspace for employees while the main office in Asheville was out of commission. McGill’s leadership did not pressure employees to immediately return to work, but many of our employees were eager to return, understanding the ways in which so many of our clients needed help. To make sure all work was being accounted for and accomplished, the operations recovery team also helped by delegating work from employees without internet access to employees who were not impacted by the storm.
Client Recovery
The third team was our client recovery team. After the storm, this team contacted our impacted clients to check in, assess damage, and establish temporary services for their communities. With our network of trusted clients, we were able to connect communities so that they could help each other, and we immediately assisted with navigating FEMA requirements and applications.
Helene Articles
We have posted a few other articles about Helene and its impact, all of which you can find in our archive. Check them out to learn more about our team and some of the communities in which we work.
