The 2025 Sustainable Energy Speaker Series, hosted by the Appalachian Energy Center, is set for September 30, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., in Room 17, Katherine Harper Hall. "From Response to Resilience: Lessons from Tropical Storm Helene" is a free event to be held prior to App State's Community Meal. Students, staff, faculty and community members are invited to attend and join the conversation.
The symposium brings together practitioners, municipal leaders and nonprofit innovators to reflect on the regional response to Helene and to explore strategies for building climate and disaster resilience. Panelists from the Footprint Project, the Town of Boone, Buncombe County and App State will share their experiences in storm response, recovery, their role in community resilience and lessons learned to prepare Western North Carolina for future challenges. The session will include moderated discussion and audience Q&A.
Western North Carolina continues to recover from the devastating impacts of Helene, which brought widespread flooding, infrastructure damage and disruption across the region. While the storm tested the limits of our communities, it also revealed extraordinary examples of resilience, leadership and collaboration. Local governments, nonprofits and institutions stepped up to provide immediate support and to begin charting a path toward greater resilience. One year later, we reflect on our progress and explore what it takes to build stronger, more resilient communities in the face of natural disasters.
The panel will highlight:
- Immediate response efforts — how each institution supported residents and communities during the storm's aftermath
- Recovery challenges and successes — lessons learned from infrastructure repair, emergency services and community partnerships
- Strategies for resilience — initiatives now underway to prepare for future natural disasters with a focus on sustainability and collaboration
Panel Participants:
- Jason Marshburn, director of health, safety and environmental management, Appalachian State University
- Catherine Hebson, recovery program manager, Footprint Project
- Jeremiah LeRoy, deputy recovery lead, director, Buncombe County Sustainability Office
- George Santucci, sustainability and special projects manager, Town of Boone
- Moderated by Dr. Jamie Russell, director, Appalachian Energy Center