Warren Wilson College Marks One-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Helene with Bold Steps Toward Resilience and Stewardship

When Helene cut off the campus from the outside world, Warren Wilson students, faculty, and staff responded with grit and grace—clearing debris, caring for animals, and supporting one another through the storm’s aftermath. As the New York Times Magazine observed in a recent article about WWC , “You find, in some of these students, an unusual marriage of sensibilities: The ruggedness of agrarian labor and bushcraft is coupled with the indiscriminate sensitivities of the liberal-arts undergraduate.”

That rare blend of ruggedness and sensitivity was more than poetic, it was practical. In the face of crisis, it became the foundation for a community-wide response rooted in compassion, ingenuity, and action.

“Despite all the pain that Helene inflicted in our region, it was inspiring to see how our faculty, staff and students embodied an ethos of resilience and doing good in the world, which is a spirit that has animated Warren Wilson since its founding,” said Damián J. Fernández, President of the College. “We took that moment to craft a renaissance and to continue the renewal of Warren Wilson with an eye not only toward rebuilding, but coming back stronger and more resilient.”  

Yet even amid this remarkable recovery, the College faced a setback. As noted in a recent WUNC story and article, the College was excluded from the North Carolina General Assembly’s $500 million Helene recovery package, which included more than $4 million in relief for the state’s private colleges and universities. While nearby colleges, Lees-McRae and Montreat, received substantial relief to the tune of $1.5 million each, Warren Wilson continues to advocate for equitable support from state lawmakers.

Still, the College remains focused on forward momentum. Here are a few ways Warren Wilson is combining action with intentionality to mark the anniversary of this transformative event.

Restoring the River, Rebuilding Resilience 

On September 4, the College hosted a public talk and panel led by Dr. Dave Ellum, Dean of the Center for Working Lands, detailing the restoration of 2.5 miles of the Swannanoa River post-Helene. From Army Corps mobilization to ecologically sound recovery protocols, the event showcased the science and strategy behind the river’s rehabilitation—and the additional resilience it now offers against future floods.

The riparian zone restoration, coupled with the College’s unique landscape, ensures that water from the Swannanoa River is slowed and dispersed, utilizing parts of the campus as a natural floodplain and catchment area meant to help protect our local community. This ecological foresight is a cornerstone of Warren Wilson’s long-term climate adaptation strategy.

“The recovery has been a smart recovery—a recovery that is future looking, future proof to enhance resilience,” added President Fernández. “That’s the kind of place we are. We want to be a test site, a hub, for learning about how to become better at dealing with natural disasters.”

Tiny Homes, Big Impact 

Thanks to a generous three-year, $150,000 commitment from the Pisgah Investments Foundation, Warren Wilson is expanding its innovative tiny home initiative. First launched in partnership with BeLoved Asheville with a tiny home build in Spring 2025, the project will expand now to include a tiny home build supported by academic coursework. These homes will be gifted to Swannanoa residents in need, reinforcing the College’s commitment to delivering a high-impact, experiential learning while supporting the community, in this case, by addressing local housing insecurity.

“What Hurricane Helene showed us is that this education empowers students to be world ready,” said Warren Wilson College President Dr. Damián J. Fernández. “Helene was very difficult for the campus, but it was inspiring to see our students willing and skilled at problem solving… ready to save our livestock, recycle water, perform sanitation tasks, help neighbors, and volunteer to distribute food. It was a testament to the power of a Warren Wilson education.”

Learning That Works 

Through the Center for Working Lands, students engage in land stewardship that blends ecological services with economic and social returns. From measuring carbon sequestration in cattle grazing to electrifying vintage tractors, Warren Wilson students are not just studying sustainability—they’re shaping it. To read individual stories of our students’ experiences after the storm, visit our Stories of Resilience page.

Students, faculty and staff will participate in a number of events commemorating the impact of Helene including a Land Acknowledgement Circle, an Engaged Learning Fair focused on resilience, fireside chats, and reflection activities. We would love for our community to join us at our two public events commemorating the first-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene:

“Out of Chaos: Healing Ourselves and All of Creation,” a talk with Rev. Nontombi Tutu and Mungi Ngomane
Wed. Sept. 24, 5:30 – 8:00 pm
Open to the public, this keynote talk will be followed by a catered dinner in the Canon Lounge. More information here.

“Building Resilience through Community Partnerships,” a Faculty/Staff and Community Partner Panel 
Thurs. Sept. 25, at 5:00 pm in Warren Wilson College’s Canon Lounge
Open to the public. More information here.

As the College honors the anniversary of Hurricane Helene, it does so not with solemnity alone, but with renewed purpose. Through housing, habitat, and hands-on learning, Warren Wilson continues to rise- ready for the storms ahead, and committed to the community it calls home.