Post-Helene Recovery and Renewal
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Wed Aug 28: FALL SEMESTER BEGINS
Mon Sept 30: Begin Hurricane “Break” for two weeks (5 weeks completed)
Mon Oct 21: Resume classes
Fri Nov 1: Term 1 ends
Mon Nov 4: Term 2 begins
Mon Nov 11: Veterans Day will be an instructional day
Wed Nov 27- Fri Nov 29: Thanksgiving Break (students permitted to remain on campus)
Fri Dec 20 Last Day of Regular Classes/Last day of semester
Sat Dec 21: Winter Break Begins
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
It was another crisp fall day at Warren Wilson College. I wanted to end the week with inspiring stories of grit and grace. Read Stories of Resilience to learn some of the ways our Warren Wilson students supported the College, each other, our animals and our neighbors in the days following the storm.
This week we announced the revised fall academic calendar, and we continued assessing and mitigating damages. All but a few College buildings have power, and we are doing all we can to prepare for the return of our students later this month, if water service is restored. Additional information will be shared next week on facilities.
Last night I participated in “Meaning-Making and Mindfulness: Nurturing Community Post-Helene at WWC.” It was the inaugural session of our series, “Helene in Swannanoa: What does a hurricane ask of us?” Next week we invite you to join us for:
(We will share the event links next week.)
We plan to send Helene recovery updates on Monday and Thursday next week.
Wishing you well,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Students and Families,
Today we share with you the revised fall schedule (see above) developed by the Provost Leadership Team. Please note several changes to breaks and instruction days.
Class will resume October 21 online. Our plan is to be in-person starting on October 28, if water service is restored. The City of Asheville Water Resources has announced that progress is being made. Therefore, we are optimistic but cautious.
If water is restored, students should return to campus the weekend of October 26. For those flying, we suggest that you purchase a refundable ticket—just in case. We must remain flexible due to the uncertainty of factors beyond our control. We will announce with as much advance notice as possible—at least 5 days—to provide time for faculty, staff and students to finalize travel arrangements.
We have tried to anticipate your questions and created an FAQ document. Other questions about the schedule can be directed to the list of staff resources at the top of the FAQ document.
Wishing you well,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
Henri is back. After spending over a week foraging alongside the cows, he was guided to the pig pen by our Farm Crew leaders. He is happy.
Two reminders: Tomorrow (Thursday, October 10, 2024) we will announce the final schedule for resumption of classes, and we launch the series, “Helene in Swannanoa: What does a hurricane ask of us?” The first event, “Meaning-Making and Mindfulness: Nurturing Community Post-Helene at WWC,” will begin at 7 p.m. Here is the link to join. http://meet.google.com/bwi-verc-bdt.
Part of our assessment process includes understanding the impact of Helene on the Farm. Dean and Director of the Center for Working Lands Dave Ellum is sharing the following report:
“WWC Farm Report – Post Helene Recovery
It has been 13 days since Helene made her presence known in the Swannanoa Valley. Our Farm Crew has been working tirelessly under the guidance and mentorship of Farm Manager Blair Thompson and Assistant Manager Sienna Wire. The entire Farm Crew worked the operation in earnest for the first 10 days, and we owe them a tremendous amount of gratitude for their efforts and skills. The crew has since slimmed down to five students working full time. These students hail from New York, North Carolina, California and Virginia. They represent majors from across the College: Business, Environmental Studies, Global Studies, Cultural Anthropology/Sociology and Media Arts.
The work of the Farm goes on. We have transported the majority of our livestock to a neighboring farm for holding until we understand the future carrying capacity of the land. The entirety of our breeding stock is being kept on site, maintaining the unique genetic lineages we have been cultivating in the valley for years. Through sound preparation, quick thinking and some student heroics, we can report a 97% survival rate of our total pre-hurricane livestock population. The farm shop was flooded and the crew is currently working on relocating their center of operations to another location on campus. Between multiple daily shifts of transporting water to thirsty animals, they are doing the intellectual work of reimagining the cropping and grazing systems to match the reconfigured landscape.
We are also working diligently to assess the state of our flooded bottomlands. Some of the best agricultural lands in the Southeast are situated in floodplains. The natural flooding cycles of these ecosystems periodically deposit nutrient rich silt and sediments that replenish the fertility of the soil. The magnitude of the recent flooding from Helene has created an entirely different situation, depositing debris and sediment at a depth and from sources not typically seen. We are working with a private engineering firm, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and North Carolina Agriculture and Technology State University to do an early analysis of the sediments to inform our short-term mitigation strategy. Through our Natural Science Undergraduate Research Sequence (NSURS), we are deploying WWC faculty and students to conduct research that will inform our long-term livestock and cropping strategies. Our inaugural cohort of the Masters in Applied Climate Studies will join in this effort expanding the scope of research and education needed to build resilience into the rural landscapes of Western North Carolina. There is much to learn after this tragedy, and we are dedicated to developing and documenting protocols that can be used to benefit landowners and managers operating in flood prone ecosystems of the region.
A comprehensive report on The Center for Working Lands will be coming soon.”
Hasta mañana,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
We start with happy news. We are inviting students to the first event in a series entitled, “Helene in Swannanoa: What does a hurricane ask of us?” The series will launch Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 7 p.m. with “Meaning-Making and Mindfulness: Nurturing Community Post-Helene at WWC.” This first event will be hosted by Provost Jay Roberts and Vice President and Dean of Student Engagement Gilbert Hinga and will feature a presentation by Annie Jonas, Dean of The Center for Experiential Learning, and Chaplain Shannon Spencer. Other events will follow next week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Stay tuned for more information.
Alumni and friends of the College continue to ask, “what is the best way to help Warren Wilson?” We understand that many want to offer time and talent; we hope to be able to accept those offers at some point in the future. In the meantime, the best way to have an impact is through a gift of any size to the College. Thank you to all of those who have made recent gifts to us.
The Provost Leadership Team is finalizing the revised plan for the fall academic semester and the resumption of classes. We will share more information including the revised academic calendar and key dates on Thursday of this week.
Athletic Director Robin Martin-Davis has been in conversation with the NCAA on behalf of student-athletes whose seasons have been interrupted by Hurricane Helene. Once the College determines when students will return to campus, we will have additional information related to their eligibility. Go Owls!
Wishing you well,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
Today we start by acknowledging the loss, suffering and hardship that many of our colleagues have lived through during the past week. Helene has impacted every member of this community; some have shared harrowing experiences. Many are displaced and in remote locations. These trying moments and their memories require time to process and heal.
By now I hope our students have begun their restorative process. Many would have preferred to remain on campus doing their good work. Although we had sad farewells and the challenges linger, we are grateful for the safety of all at Warren Wilson.
The campus is in full mitigation mode directed by First Onsite, a disaster restoration and property reconstruction provider with whom we have had a long-standing relationship. This weekend we saw bucket trucks along Warren Wilson Road and North Lane. We expect power in the next couple of days. As you know by now, water service is a different story. We will keep you updated.
Later this week the Provost will release the revised academic schedule for the fall semester. As we announced, we intend to resume classes on October 21. The modality—online or in person—is contingent on the restoration of water service, which is not under our control. Be assured that we want our students back as soon as possible.
For those who are planning to travel to campus by plane when classes resume, we suggest you wait to purchase tickets or opt for refundable fares.
We are inviting all our students to participate in a series of virtual community gatherings entitled, “Helene in Swannanoa: What does a hurricane ask of us?” Save the date for the first event planned for 7 p.m., Thursday, October 10, 2024. Details about this series will be shared this week.
Wishing you well,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
Lunch provided the perfect moment of community after a week we will never forget. A student wrote on the white board under the menu of the day, “A barbecue at the end of the world.” I was tempted to offer an alternative: “A barbecue to nourish the Warren Wilson spirit into the future.”
Today our IT team extended connectivity to Gladfelter. Internet service will sustain business continuity. We are activating accounts payable, payroll, and other functions on Monday. We are grateful to our technical specialists for their creativity to get this done.
During the crisis leadership team meeting 30 minutes ago I heard reports from the academic, student engagement, operations, and marketing and enrollment working groups. We are making progress. Please stay tuned to learn about our student engagement programs beginning next week.
Starting Monday you will receive only one update per day. We are taking a break this weekend, but not before I take the opportunity to thank so many of you: our students, our staff (Facilities, Public Safety, Residence Life and others behind the scenes), volunteers who have shown up and stepped up, and Sodexo, our food service partner. To those who have made a gift to the Recovery and Renewal Fund, a special note of gratitude. Your actions prove that this place matters.
We would not have accomplished our No. 1 priority–the safety of all our students–without the dedicated team of professionals around me. I assure you that Helene impacted them as well, but they put our students first. I owe them a lot.
I appreciate all the notes I have received from parents, alumni, and students expressing their gratitude for our work this past week.
Wishing you all a peaceful weekend.
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
A week ago we woke up to the destruction from Hurricane Helene. We have worked hard to mitigate, recover, and, above all, keep our students safe. Student safety has been, and continues, to be our number one priority. Our shared experience has strengthened community bonds and our hope for the future.
Throughout the process of recovery, we have done what WWC has always done: solve problems, rely on our can-do spirit, and help others in need to the extent possible. We will continue to do so in the months ahead.
Today we start a new phase of our recovery. Based on information regarding the delay in electric and water service restoration–it will take weeks to get utilities re-established–we have made two important decisions: 1) to reduce the number of students on campus, and 2) to delay the resumption of classes to October 21.
Campus Recovery
Our students have been a critical part of our response to the crisis. We understand that some would prefer to continue to serve. But, for the next two weeks, campus will be closed as we continue to assess and address facilities issues, provide the staff a chance to resume a sustainable pace of work, implement business continuity measures, and plan for the College’s continued recovery. We know our students do not want to leave, and we will miss them. Only essential staff should be on campus from Monday, October 7, through Saturday, October 19. By now every student should have an individual travel plan. Those who need assistance in figuring out logistics should see Associate Dean Tacci Smith in Gladfelter.
We have asked ten students who were identified by their crew supervisors to remain on campus to support operations and cleanup. All other students should depart campus no later than 7 p.m., Sunday, October 6. Students with special circumstances should communicate with Associate Dean Tacci Smith.
Resumption of the Academic Program
We have several updates regarding programming and the resumption of classes:
We know some students will be disappointed by the news that the campus will be closed next week. Please remember that this is the rescheduled Fall Break. We want to bring students back as soon as possible, and we will. Today we will come together once again as the Warren Wilson post-Helene community at a lunchtime barbecue to express our gratitude to all who have contributed to our recovery up to this point. I wish all of you could join us.
Thank you for your support. We will continue to need it in the weeks ahead.
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
Sometimes it pays to be small. Hurricane Helene could not destroy our crop of shitake mushrooms, which were harvested by our students today. We will grill them tomorrow at our community fiesta barbecue.
The coordinating team has been working all day to process recent information and develop a plan for the coming weeks. We will announce details about the fall academic calendar tomorrow.
Other updates:
Good evening to all,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
Some good news to brighten our day. One of our pigs was found in East Asheville. We are bringing her back home.
Students have exemplified a Warren Wilson education as problem-solvers and difference-makers. Their contribution to our recovery has been extraordinary. Sixty-five students remain on campus. We are encouraging them to take a break now away from the College.
As much as we love to have them here, the persistent message from officials is that power and water restoration will be delayed. We are factoring that into our contingency planning and will make an announcement tomorrow. Sanitation of student dorms is proceeding, supervised by our student engagement and residential life staff members.
Now that our students are safe, we are committed to delivering our academic program without any interruption to credit-earning or degree completion. Our students love this place and want to be back as soon as conditions permit.
Our IT department has restored some of our basic functions, but the wifi is yet to be reestablished. We are testing other ways to reconnect.
The mitigation of damages continues. Our insurance adjuster visited us yesterday and gave us the green light to proceed. We have made initial contact with FEMA. A number of vendors are on campus today clearing trees, drying out buildings, servicing our generator, and assessing needed repairs. We are witnessing improvements day-by-day.
Step by step we are resuming business operations to ensure continuity of services. Of course, the main obstacle is disruption in internet service for faculty and staff.
The sun is shining in the Swannanoa Valley today.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
This afternoon we learned from regional elected officials and emergency management professionals that water service is the most complicated issue to solve. It will take several weeks to do so. We continue to monitor and plan for contingencies.
Thank you for those who are providing gifts to the College’s Post-Helene Recovery and Renewal Fund, https://www.warren-wilson.edu/giving/make-a-gift/. Donations are trickling in. Please remember that our list of greatest needs includes:
Our maintenance personnel from Harper’s Maintenance have been coming to campus. We appreciate that they are helping us with clean up and tending to our common areas and other buildings. We know that several of them have suffered personal losses. We will do all we can to support them.
We received a few questions about grouping students in two residence halls. Our plan is to prioritize the use of unoccupied rooms in two residence halls. That process is ongoing, and we are in conversation with individual students to facilitate the process.
For your information, Buncombe County continues to enforce a 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. curfew. We are encouraging our students to respect this code.
This afternoon, students, faculty and staff and I volunteered at Hearts With Hands, a nonprofit half a mile from campus serving more than 1,000 meals to individuals in the region.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
Good morning. Our leadership team continues to meet three times a day to address the evolving needs of the College during the recovery and renewal process. After five days working as one team I have formalized a working group structure to focus on the following key areas:
We will provide information on their work as appropriate in the coming days.
As of this morning, we have about 70 students on campus. To build community among these students, we are planning to consolidate them into two residence halls. Grouping them helps us keep bathrooms and common areas clean.
Other updates:
We acknowledge the dedication of colleagues who have been on the front lines of managing this crisis. Individuals have stepped up. We could not have done it without this collective leadership.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
Heart-wrenching stories continue to reach us. If you have access to the news, you have sensed the suffering and the loss.
At the College we are attempting to contact our faculty and staff to ensure they are safe. In true Warren Wilson spirit, regardless of the impacts to them, our colleagues and students are volunteering in the community; many others are looking for ways to serve. Our self-reliance during these past four days is an additional way of contributing to recovery and rebuilding post-Helene. We wish we could do more for greater Asheville.
The Outdoor Leadership Immersion Semester students have returned from Sylva, N.C.; some went home and others stayed on campus. The majority of our students have decided to spend the next two weeks with family and friends. About 125 students remain on campus.
We are conducting a thorough assessment of all damages for insurance and FEMA purposes. A number of trees remain on buildings. Several of our faculty and staff rental units have suffered severe damage. Holden building was impacted; we are assessing the extent. This process takes time.
I have heard from many of you that the stories coming from Warren Wilson fill you with hope. I share that sentiment. For example, a student set up a gray water collection system at the college garden. Now that it is perfected, we will be implementing it across campus to fill our non-potable water needs.
Friends near and far have asked: What are the greatest needs of the College at this time? We continue to invite you to contribute to the Post-Helene Recovery and Renewal Fund (https://www.warren-wilson.edu/giving/make-a-gift/), but we could also use:
For details, please contact Dave Ellum, dellum@warren-wilson.edu.
We have been grateful for donations of food and water. We are now stocked. Please divert those donations to Hearts with Hands, which is only a mile from campus. They are serving other relief organizations and individuals in need. Some of us will volunteer there in the coming days.
Please receive this effusive and collective thank you. Individual acknowledgements of your generosity may take time.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
Good news! Three of our pigs found their way back to us. They know a good thing.
We have heard from public officials that self-evacuation is an option now. Limited shuttle service to Asheville Airport will be provided today and tomorrow. We have posted a signup sheet in the lobby of Gladfelter.
Students who have no other relocation alternatives are welcome to remain on campus. We will provide shelter, food and drinking water. Our students are experienced in doing so—the power of being a work college.
Essential employees—including essential student workers with specialized skills—can remain on campus to maintain critical infrastructure, care for livestock, and support basic services.
Below are additional updates for your information:
I know that many have reached out to me via email, and despite my compulsion to answer to all emails in record time, I am mending my ways. I will respond as soon as I am able.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Good evening,
Every day we see our progress on a number of fronts. The hard work of our students, faculty and staff have brought us this far. We are stable in a rather unstable situation.
About 250 students remain on campus. Many have opted to join family and friends elsewhere. We wish them well.
I want to share a glimpse of what I have experienced in the past days about Warren Wilson’s education in action for the common good:
These are not the exceptions among our Warren Wilson students—they are the rule. We empower students to serve, lead, and act.
That same commitment and love for Warren Wilson has been echoed throughout our community. We have been touched by the many who have reached out asking how they can help. Thank you for your offers. We invite you to consider joining a special effort—The Post-Helene Fund for Recovery and Renewal (https://www.warren-wilson.edu/giving/make-a-gift/) At this time, this is the greatest impact you can have on the College’s recovery and renewal.
Some have asked for a specific list of high priority needs; I am discussing it with the administrative team and promise to get back to you.
We are considering additional options for engagement as we continue to rebuild. We will find the right moment to mobilize volunteers to take greatest advantage of their time, talent and love for Warren Wilson.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
The sound of music has come back to Warren Wilson College. Not only are the birds chirping and a student is strumming her guitar in front of Gladfelter, but the rumble of food and water delivery trucks is sweet music to our ears.
We have closed the portable toilets, which were an emergency measure we planned before the hurricane. We have instructed our students to use the restrooms in our buildings, and we have non-potable water available to flush.
We are assessing our connectivity problems; our director of IT is in downtown Asheville where our server is located identifying next steps.
We have conducted wellness checks on students as requested by parents. Please be reminded that our communications continue to be challenging, so it may take time to hear back from us or from them.
An update from the Center for Working Lands: We are implementing a plan to move livestock off campus until we can accommodate them here. One hundred percent of our cows and sheep survived; we lost some hogs. Students in collaboration with our Farm Manager are taking care of essential infrastructure and land work. We experienced building damages, but we realize it could have been much worse. We have not assessed the condition of our trails, and therefore will be posted warning signs.
Dean and Director of the CWL Dave Ellum has been on campus since Thursday evening leading our efforts to prepare the campus for the storm. He is one of a constellation of shining stars. At this time the CWL is living its mission to demonstrate land resiliency.
As we deal with the immediate, we are considering the future. We are determining next steps with FEMA to understand support programs. We are thankful for the leadership of the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities on this important front and others. We expect additional information early next week.
Our plans to partner with community organizations are materializing. We are in collaboration with Conscious Alliance and Hearts with Hands to volunteer to distribute food and water close to campus.
On a lighter note, tonight at 7:30 p.m. our Wellness Crew is holding a “community stretch and sound bath” gathering, leaders are everywhere.
Indeed Warren Wilson’s education prepares students for life’s realities. Our students are world-ready. Uplifting to see.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
Yesterday was a day of contrasts. At 11 a.m. our Spiritual Life crew held a gathering that ended with the singing of Amazing Grace. It was a touching moment of communion.
The evening ended on a different note, the result of a hoax that impacted the entire region.
Around 8:45 p.m. or so regional emergency officials were provided with false information about dams breaching. We responded with urgency and confirmed with 911 and the National Guard that those rumors were erroneous. Our team, including our Vice President for Student Engagement and Dean of Students, and I met with students and assured them it was safe to return to their dorms. As to be expected, our students were shaken.
At times like these we need to be judicious about rumors and misinformation. The College will continue to try to provide accurate reports. We do our best to confirm the information we receive.
Today is a new day. We have nothing new to report on water service. We have heard that progress is being made on the resumption of electrical power in the region. We have not been informed about when ours will be restored. We have yet to see Duke Energy technicians around the campus. We are waiting.
We are considering ways that Warren Wilson can help others at this time. We have engaged a number of nonprofits to see how we can be of assistance. We will keep you posted.
We are aware that many students have opted to spend the next two weeks with family and friends. We wish them well.
Later today I will update you on any new developments.
I thank all of you who have reached out to offer support and donations for the College. We appreciate it.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
A report of a possible dam break caused students to retreat to higher ground on the campus soccer field this evening.
Warren Wilson College leadership confirmed with local police and the National Guard that the local dams are safe; the initial report was a hoax. Students are now back in their residence halls.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
Another day of progress and challenges. The safety, health and wellness of our students continues to be our priority.
My colleagues and I are on campus engaging with students throughout the day. They impress us with their resilience and can-do spirit.
For your information, the supply chain for water and food seems reliable. We are grateful for that. Progress is also being made on cleanup. A tree company is on campus as I write this taking care of the largest trees that we lost. And our students continue to help with recovery. They find a sense of purpose and community support in doing so.
The latest information that we have received from city and county officials indicates that it may take at least a week or more to restore power and water. This continues to be a fluid and unpredictable situation. These officials are not giving a date-certain for the re-establishment of utilities.
Our hearts go out to our faculty and staff who are experiencing the impacts of Hurricane Helene. We are doing what we can to support them and providing them with information about resources.
Many faculty, staff and students have stepped up to help in recovery. A time will come when we will thank all of them. For now, know that there is a lot of goodness in the world and that we are recipients of it.
Tomorrow we will meet again at 9:30 a.m. for a community update. We will keep you informed.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
Recovery continues. Today we received palettes of water and procured additional supplies. We have placed orders for provisions, and we expect delivery early this week. We continue to provide food and water to our students. Our kitchen staff and crew students have been tireless in responding to this challenge. Please join me in thanking them.
Cell phone service has improved, but we have no campus wifi. We are planning to open additional campus facilities to support student engagement.
If you and your student make the decision to leave campus, we understand, although that is not our recommendation at this time. Students leaving campus should check in with their RA or sign the sign-up sheet in Gladfelter.
I want to reiterate that despite the challenges, our campus is better off than most of the surrounding areas. Structural damages will be assessed, but buildings have held up with integrity.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
10:45am 9.29.24 update- Drinking water was delivered
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
I write this as our students are enjoying breakfast in Gladfelter. At 9:30 a.m. we will convene another community gathering to announce which crews will be working today to continue our cleanup and recovery.
The big announcement of the morning is that the Provost and I have decided that classes are cancelled for the next two weeks September 30 to October 13. Classes will resume Monday, October 14. Please note that we have moved up Fall Break to Monday, October 7, to Sunday, October 13. To be clear, this is our schedule:
Please be aware that some roads are impassable, conditions are risky, and emergency personnel have asked that only essential workers travel at this time. Furthermore, gas stations are closed around us, and travel times are delayed and unpredictable. We are encouraging students to heed the advice of emergency management professionals.
We remind you that Homecoming scheduled for October 4-6 has been cancelled.
We will provide another update this afternoon.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Warren Wilson Community,
Today has been a day of planning and recovery at the College. In partnership with our students, we:
We will have another community meeting at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow. Food and water will continue to be available. I am in conversation with the Provost about an academic contingency plan. We hope to share specifics tomorrow.
Despite progress, our challenges are serious and persist. With few and limited exceptions, there is no connectivity on campus, and we are working to secure additional provisions.
Emergency management is asking folks to refrain from travel. Road closures and dangerous conditions pose serious risks. We heed this advice and encourage everyone to stay on campus for now.
Thank you for your continued support. Even from a distance, we feel the goodwill. We are fortunate to have the students, faculty and staff that make this College unlike any other.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear WWC Community,
We are updating you about the situation on campus. Our focus continues to be safety, wellbeing, and implementing our recovery plan. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are being provided. Our students are fed and hydrated.
Today at 9:30 we had a community meeting outside of Gladfelter where we organized a number of clean-up crews. Progress is being made, and I appreciate the spirit of our WW students to get things done and solve problems. I am not surprised. I am inspired.
During the day we have heard about the devastation surrounding our campus and beyond. Devastation is not an exaggeration. This morning I was informed by our representative from Duke Electric not to expect crews for at least 72 hours. The local fire department reported that the priority for first responders is rescue and emergency response.
Warren Wilson Road is now accessible from Route 70, please visit drivenc.gov for updates on interstates and road closure. It appears to be the only road providing access to the campus. We have not received an update from the water department. Water is essential for continuing to operate the College. At this point, we are distributing water bottles, we are attempting to restart a well, and we are trying to secure water from other sources. We are being creative. Unless we find an additional source of water supply, campus operations will be untenable.
The Provost and I are discussing a contingency plan for the academic program. We will update you as soon as possible about what form that will take. The priority continues to be the safety of our students, and we are addressing sanitation needs with limited resources.
I have heard from some parents and students asking about leaving campus. Please give me some time to gather additional information before I advise you on this. I expect that by tomorrow morning we will have a better idea about how this could take place. We will try to give you an update later tonight. Communications remain challenging.
Wishing you all the best, and thanking you for your grace during this time,
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Good morning WWC Community,
We want to thank everyone for their support and understanding as we deal with the impact of Hurricane Helene. President Fernandez is on campus orchestrating the recovery plan along with the support of faculty, staff and students.
Please be patient while we work to provide additional updates. Communication channels continue to be extremely limited. We are providing food and water to students and communicating with them through our RA network on campus.
Despite serious challenges we remain strong and safe. We have heard the impact of Helene around us has been devastating. We will keep you updated by the end of today with our response plan. Thank you for your concern and support during this trying time.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear WWC Families,
We understand that you are concerned about your student. We are doing the best we can to keep you informed, but our ability to communicate is compromised. We hope that the situation improves in the next few days.
Please know that students are safe, and that we have food and water on campus. Our students seem to be in good spirits and ready to help deal with the situation.
The rain and winds stopped earlier this afternoon. The river’s waters have started to recede. Tomorrow the clean up starts. We have a lot of work to do.
We have been in communication with Duke Electric and with the City of Asheville Water Department. After a storm of this magnitude, recovery takes days.
We will continue to update you. Thank you for your concern and support during this trying time.
Onward!
Damian J. Fernandez, Ph. D.
President
Dear Faculty, Staff, Students, and Families,
We are safe at Warren Wilson College, but we face multiple challenges. Helene has been a historic storm.
Since mid-morning I have been able to walk most of the campus and have witnessed significant damage. We continue to assess the extent. No injuries have been reported at this time. Gladfelter Cafeteria is operational, serving food and drinking water. Yet, most of our operational systems are compromised.
At this time, the roads are blocked, although the water from the Swannanoa River has started to recede. A power outage has impacted all of campus, we have no internet, and no running water—the city seems to have turned off water service. We have contacted Duke Energy and the water department and are waiting for their response. We expect that power restoration could take days.
We understand that you want to reach your students and colleagues, but all channels of communication are unreliable. We will do our best to continue communicating as we triage on campus. It will be a long road – several days at least. I am proud of our students. They are handing out water bottles, asking to help with food service preparations, and ready to collaborate as we clean up the campus.
We have the Warren Wilson College can-do spirit. It will see us through this situation.
Thank you,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Faculty, Staff, Students and Families,
When I walked through campus at 10:30 a.m. to make my way to Gladfelter Cafeteria I was struck by the number of trees and large limbs that had fallen due to the saturated soil and high winds. Many of our Sodexo food service staff members were unable to make it to campus due to road closures from flooding and fallen trees, so I joined a small team in Glad that was helping to prepare meals for the students. I am proud of our students. They are working with us through this difficult time. They may not have loved what we were serving, but I heard only thanks—and no complaints!
At this time, the intensity of the wind and rain has decreased but conditions remain hazardous on campus. Power lines are down. Many fallen trees are blocking walkways and roads on campus, and the Swannanoa River has swelled causing water to encroach on our pastures. It will take time, but we are managing these challenges thanks to a team of dedicated employees and students.
We hope to make a full assessment of campus this afternoon and begin right away to resolve critical issues. It will take time for us to achieve a full recovery, and we are dependent on Duke Energy and others to restore services. But our team of food service stand-ins, the Public Safety, Student Engagement and Facilities teams, and others who are working to maintain operations, have reminded me that we have what it takes. After all, we are Warren Wilson College.
Stay safe,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Campus Community,
Winds and rain are heavy at this time. The situation is unfolding, but we have done a preliminary assessment: About half of campus has lost power; there is some flooding by the Swannanoa River; and the north entrance to campus is blocked due to a downed power line. We expect winds and rain from Helene to impact us until mid-afternoon today, after which we will do a full campus inventory.
We encourage all students to exercise extreme caution. We will do our best to keep you informed. Our first priority is the safety of our students.
Thank you,
Ricky Wisor
Chief of Public Safety & Risk Management
Dear Campus Community,
Hurricane Helene is approaching Western North Carolina. Essential staff have been getting the campus ready ahead of the storm and will continue to be available throughout the next few days. Keeping everyone safe is our priority. To do so, we ask for your cooperation. Please read this email to the end; it contains important information.
Helene will be in full force later tonight and into Friday morning. We expect significant impacts. If at all possible, stay indoors. Heavy rains (strongest from 3–6 a.m., Friday) and strong winds will bring trees and limbs down (several have fallen in the past hours). The campus might lose power for several days. The Swannanoa River is expected to crest, flooding nearby areas and posing serious risk to anyone in its proximity.
We urge you to avoid trails, the river perimeter, and any low-lying area where water may pool. If roads around the campus flood, do not attempt to drive or walk through them. Doing so is risky. The most dangerous conditions tend to be present after the storm has passed.
To be as ready and safe as possible, note the following:
If you encounter issues related to the storm, please contact Public Safety at (828) 230-4592. In the case of an emergency, call 911 first.
We will do our best to update you in the morning.
Thank you,
Ricky Wisor
Chief of Public Safety & Risk Management
Dear Campus Community,
In the coming hours we will start to feel the brunt of Hurricane Helene. This we know: the storm will disrupt normal College operations and will create hazardous conditions. We know as well that behind the scenes administrators, faculty, staff and students have been working to mitigate the disruption Helene has and will continue to bring us.
At moments like this at Warren Wilson we rally to figure things out, face the challenges, and do all we can. We know that we are at our best when we work, learn, and serve together. It is in our DNA. Hurricane Helene is another opportunity to come together as a community of caring. That is just what we will do. In that spirit, please take good care of yourself and others. We will continue to keep you informed.
Stay safe,
Damián J. Fernández
President
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,
Thank you to those who are working to keep our campus safe and operational. Essential staff will continue to assist during this situation and in its aftermath.
As of 9 a.m. today, our campus is no longer under a Flash Flood Warning but remains under a Flood Watch until 2 p.m., Friday. We have received two reports of minor impacts to campus buildings, which are being addressed. We are experiencing no flooding on campus, and there are no current road closures in or around campus.
Please note that the rains we are experiencing are a precursor to the impacts of Hurricane Helene, which are expected to begin to peak in our area at 9 p.m. tonight and last for about 24 hours. During that period we expect the heaviest rains, greatest potential for flooding, and highest winds.
As announced last night, Thursday and Friday classes will be offered in remote formats. We request your cooperation by avoiding any unnecessary consumption of College internet bandwidth during class sessions if you are on campus.
On-campus events and activities are suspended until further notice.
Prepare for the storm and any power outages by:
We will keep you updated on campus conditions throughout the next few days.
If you encounter issues related to the storm, please contact Public Safety at (828) 230-4592. In the case of an emergency call 911.
Ricky Wisor
Chief of Public Safety & Risk Management
Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,
Warren Wilson College is monitoring the developing weather situation related to Hurricane Helene. At this time, operations will proceed as follows:
Please pay attention to ongoing communications from the College for additional information and instructions as the inclement weather situation develops. We expect to feel the impact of the hurricane well into the weekend.
If you encounter issues related to the storm during this time, please contact Public Safety at (828) 230-4592. In the case of an emergency call 911.
Please stay safe.
Thank you,
Ricky Wisor
Chief of Public Safety & Risk Management
