Appalachian State University: A History of Resilience in the Face of Flooding

Appalachian State University (App State), nestled in the heart of Boone, North Carolina, has faced its share of challenges from flooding events throughout its history. The university and its surrounding community have demonstrated remarkable resilience and unity in the face of these natural disasters. This article explores the history of flooding at App State, focusing on the significant impact of Hurricane Helene and the university's response to support its students, faculty, staff, and the wider High Country community.

Hurricane Helene: A Defining Moment

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene brought record-breaking rain and wind to the High Country, leaving a lasting impact on Appalachian State University and the surrounding region. According to the National Weather Service, the hurricane, combined with a band of heavy rain that preceded the storm's arrival, dropped upwards of 30 inches of rain in some areas of the Southern Appalachians and around 10 to 20 inches of rain across most of the High Country. Wind gusts ranged from 40 mph in valleys to more than 100 mph on some mountaintops.

Dr. William Anderson, professor in App State’s Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, explained that in the mountains, water often moves much faster than in coastal floods because of the steep slopes. He also noted that storms tend to "stick in place" in the mountains, exacerbating the flooding.

The North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management estimated $59.6 billion in damages across the state - nearly four times the impact of Hurricane Florence in 2018. The mountains of Western North Carolina were among the hardest hit areas for landslides.

Impacts on the University and Community

Hurricane Helene's historic impact extended far beyond flooding. High wind speeds, flooding, landslides, and downed trees caused widespread power outages in Western North Carolina that lasted for weeks in some areas.

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App State's Boone campus sustained significant impacts from the flooding and storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Several academic buildings sustained significant water damage from flooding, including Rankin Science Building, Walker Hall, Varsity Gym, and the academic areas of Holmes Convocation Center.

The storm knocked out electric service to about 5.5 million customers, and in Western North Carolina, some remained without power for several weeks. Another unique impact the hurricane had on the region was the devastation to bridges, which were among the hardest hit infrastructure.

Many students, faculty, and staff members were displaced from their homes across the High Country. Floodwaters and fallen trees damaged or totaled vehicles, leaving many without reliable transportation. Students and employees were burdened with the unexpected costs of replacing storm-damaged belongings and purchasing essential equipment such as generators.

The main part of campus is in a low-lying, valley area, and was badly damaged by floodwaters from Helene. Boone Creek, which runs through campus, caused extensive flooding on campus during the storm. Sinkholes, collapsed roads, and damaged homes were among the chief concerns in the city itself. There are at least two mobile home parks that were largely destroyed.

The University's Response

App State staff worked around the clock to prepare for and respond to Hurricane Helene. Despite some staff members experiencing significant damage to their homes and being separated from their families, they remained focused on serving others.

The university worked to assess and respond to damages at its Boone campus, while remaining focused on the safety and well-being of the campus community. Classes and all App State events scheduled in the Boone area, including athletics events, were canceled. However, the university began planning for academic continuity.

In support of the campus and local community, the university and Red Cross coordinated to open an emergency shelter in the Holmes Convocation Center. App State Campus Dining continued to prepare hot meals for campus and community members, free of charge, at Central Dining Hall. Since Sept. 27, the Campus Dining team has prepared and served more than 40,000 meals to anyone who has needed them. Over 80,000 meals were served from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11, 2024.

The university quickly organized a Disaster Relief Hub, supported by App State employees and volunteers. Over three weeks, the hub served nearly 5,400 students, faculty and staff, distributing over $4 million in short-term bridge funds and providing counseling, academic, housing, legal, financial aid and insurance support.

App State’s Mountaineer Medics, who are App State students with Emergency Medical Technician credentials, provided free health care services and emergency medical coverage 24 hours per day for shelter clients and campus community members, helping free up resources for broader community response.

Financial Aid and Insurance Support

Many App State faculty and staff contributed their time and expertise to the Disaster Relief Hub. Walker College of Business faculty members Dr. David Marlett, Jamie Parson, and Austin Eggers were among those on hand to assist Mountaineers at the hub, where they helped students, staff, and faculty better understand their insurance coverages and prepare their FEMA applications. The trio also prepared an insurance education document utilized by other volunteers and App State employees who helped staff the relief hub.

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Sheila Burleson, App State Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid, noted that working in the emergency hub gave the financial aid team an opportunity to connect with and help their student population in a time of real need.

Power Restoration Efforts

Lineworkers at App State New River Light and Power (NRLP) were in the field before, during, and after Hurricane Helene, working around the clock to restore power and keep lines of communication open - and did so amid dangerous conditions, including downed trees and mudslides. Approximately 70% of NRLP’s 9,000 customers lost power on Sept. 27. The utility restored power to 85%-90% of customers the next day, with full restoration to safe and habitable structures achieved by Oct. 3.

NRLP’s power restoration efforts were supported by teams from Wilson Energy, Washington Electric Utilities, and Lexington Utilities - all North Carolina public power utilities who answered NRLP’s call for mutual aid through coordination with ElectriCities of N.C. App State’s electric utility also assisted Blue Ridge Energy in its efforts to restore power to the cooperative’s more than 29,000 customers in Watauga County.

Community Support and Volunteerism

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, thousands of individuals across the state, nation, and world reached out to support Mountaineers. More than 4,900 people across the state, nation, and world contributed to the relief fund, representing 48 states and seven countries.

App State students rallied to help their High Country neighbors - from daring rescues and digging out trapped residents to volunteering with storm cleanup and repairs. On Oct. 19, 2024, around 175 students collectively completed over 500 hours of community service at 15 organizations and locations across the High Country.

Riley Edwards’ internship with Bigfoot Builders put him on the front lines of a natural disaster response in the days after Helene devastated the High Country. Edwards had been working with the Boone-based construction company since summer 2024. Bigfoot Builders rallied its workers together to transport supplies and begin rebuilding areas in Avery and Watauga counties that were significantly impacted by the hurricane.

Dr. Amber Welborn, assistant professor in App State’s Department of Nursing, led a group of students who volunteered to sort medical supplies to be delivered via aircraft at the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Regional Airport.

App State students volunteered through Baptists on Mission at First Baptist Church in Boone, which served as a drive-thru meal pickup site for those affected by Hurricane Helene.

Recovery and Moving Forward

App State’s Boone campus reopened on Oct. 11, 2024, after being closed for more than two weeks - one of the longest closures in the university’s history. Classes resumed on Oct. 16, 2024.

App State received many thank-you messages from campus and local community members for the resources and support the university provided in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

In App State’s first home football game held after Helene - on Oct. 26, 2024 - App State used the opportunity to rally fans around the theme of “HomeGIVING.” This effort raised thousands of dollars for the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Quiet Givers. These organizations supported local small businesses, child care services and provided gap services for needs not being met through existing funds or programs.

On Nov. 19, 2024, App State hosted a Community Appreciation Meal, a free seasonal dinner to once again welcome members of the local community to the university’s Central Dining Hall. Another Community Meal is planned for Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.

Just over two months after Helene disrupted classes and campus operations, App State celebrated its fall commencement ceremonies, with more than 1,500 students graduating in December 2024.

Earlier Flooding Events

While Hurricane Helene represents a significant event in App State's history, it is not the only time the university has faced flooding challenges.

On Monday, Oct. 23, a steady rain throughout the day, followed by mid-afternoon thunder, lightning, and torrential rains, caused culverts to overflow, traffic snarls and rerouting, minor leaks in some Appalachian State University facilities, and heavy flooding at off-campus housing.

Chancellor Sheri Everts noted that while community members affected by the flood were at the forefront of their thoughts and concerns, the impacts to campus facilities were quickly mitigated. However, some off-campus students and community members were not so lucky, with homes in the area affected and a number of student apartments rendered unfit for occupancy.

Associate Director of Facilities for University Housing Bruce Bromberger said there was little-to-no impact on student dorm rooms. Due to the sideways rain, there were a few water leaks around windows, and there were exterior clogged drains, which caused some flooding in East Hall’s hallways.

The combination of heavy rain and falling leaves left many drains clogged, resulting in flooding in some low-lying areas. This field between Rankin Hall and Edwin Duncan Hall was cleared by class time Tuesday, Oct. 24.

According to Dr. Greg Taylor, assistant director of the Physical Plant, the Physical Plant team had pre-planned, was prepared, and knew the storm was coming. Taylor said sandbags were in place and additional shift employees were on hand. A real-time communication system allowed management to deploy the proper resources and identify the highest priorities. Workers were able to protect the wood floors in Varsity Gym and the Holmes Convocation Center.

Although many of the drains had been cleaned prior to the storm, the combination of heavy rain and falling leaves caused clogging in many of the drains. And the clay storage and pottery room in Katherine Harper Hall, an area that does not normally flood, suffered some damage.

According to Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs J. J. Brown, Off-campus Student Services has developed relationships with management of off-campus housing facilities and relies on the students and/or those managers to reach out to the Office of the Dean of Students for services and assistance.

Lessons Learned and Future Preparedness

The flooding events at Appalachian State University, particularly Hurricane Helene, have highlighted the importance of preparedness, community support, and resilience. The university has taken several steps to improve its emergency response systems and infrastructure to mitigate the impact of future flooding events.

These include:

Pre-planned scenario responses: The university has developed emergency systems with pre-planned scenario responses to address various potential disasters.
Infrastructure improvements: Efforts are being made to improve drainage systems and infrastructure to reduce the risk of flooding on campus.
Community partnerships: The university continues to strengthen its partnerships with local organizations and emergency services to coordinate responses and provide support to the community.
Student support services: App State has enhanced its student support services to provide assistance with housing, transportation, financial aid, and other needs in the aftermath of a disaster.
Climate research and resilience efforts: The university is actively involved in climate research and resilience efforts to better understand and prepare for the impacts of climate change, including more intense precipitation events and flooding.

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