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Reflections of two Rutherford County Schools during Hurricane Helene Contributed by Caroline Parker, director of rural storytelling and strategy for EducationNC. She covers the stories of rural North Carolina, the arts, STEM education and nutrition (This first appeared at EdNC and is used here with permission. Contributed photos).
supplies, she looked to R-S Central High School down the road, which was simultaneously a distribution center and an evacuation shelter. Principal Phil Rogers told Twitty to come down and take anything she needed. That Tuesday, the lobby of the school was converted into a On Monday, Oct. 7, the mass general store. educators of Pinnacle Twitty never stopped working Elementary School had their to fulfill community needs. After first official meeting since four days of no power, people Hurricane Helene hit western asked about ice. Many of the North Carolina. But unofficially, families Pinnacle Elementary these educators and their serves have hunters, and they principal, Ashley Twitty, had didn’t want to lose their frozen been seeing a lot of each other meat. She got on the phone and since the storm. didn’t stop calling until she had “I’m serious, I have never brokered a delivery of 3,000 been so proud,” Twitty said to bags of ice from Zippy Ice in her staff. With a genuine mix Charlotte. of gratefulness and gusto she Her focus, and the focus of continued, “Thank you so very the Rutherford County School much for everything that you district, was shifting from have done, and that we are At the beginning of the storm, R-S Central’s sign out front reflected a hopeful message. rescue and recovery to students going to do.” returning, which happened two She is referring to the relief On Monday, she and six teachers supplies, bring jugs.” Staff members and recovery efforts her staff provided put a message on the sign leading and parents were at school helping weeks after Helene hit western North for their community. They created a true to the school saying, “water, bring with distribution, and local business Carolina. All items that were in the school’s hub for help in the wake of the region’s jugs.” School staff owners who could lobby have now been relocated to most astonishing storm. assembled with a make hot meals the resource room, still at the front of Helene made landfall in Rutherford folding table, peanut came by to feed school for any students or families in “After watching what all has County Thursday, Sept. 27. Twitty had butter crackers, the volunteers. transpired in western North need. Twitty believes around 40 of her to move a 100-foot oak tree that had some cans of “ E v e r y b o d y families are still without power as of Carolina, I think the public fallen in her driveway before she could Chef Boyardee, came together to Oct. 7, which means without showers even get to her school and assess the and schools have shown during a water meet the needs and laundry. That is she and her staff’s damage. all this that they are still the hose. Community of everybody. And next item to conquer. At the meeting, There was no power at school the members in need my staff, I cannot they had a conversation about available community centers, they are following Friday or Saturday, but also quickly started be more proud of community showers, washers, and still where people go.” no major structural issues. Her first to arrive, as did my staff. A lot of driers. P il Rog Ph gers,, R-S Central Princip pal order of business was to locate all of helpers from the them came and The staff also discussed how they her staff and make sure they were safe. outside. worked, and they were going to welcome students back She would have to drive to the opposite Everyday brought more supplies, didn’t have a warm house to go home after such an event - with a short and side of the county for cell service. Once more people, and a different message to, or lights (on at home),” Twitty said. sweet spirit week. she knew all were okay, she enlisted on the sign. Tuesday was “water and When the principal ran out of Social and emotional distress is them to do the same and find all 257 of top of mind for Twitty and her their students. school counselor. So is the For communication, economic impact of the storm. Twitty had a three-pronged She is the closest traditional approach. She posted updates public school to the heavily on ClassDojo, the school’s impacted areas of Chimney Facebook page, and sent Rock and Lake Lure. Parents out all-calls. Fully aware that of many Rutherford County communication was limited students work in the tourism and power was unavailable, industry. As the community word of mouth and phone continues to recover, Twitty calls were constantly being wants families to know that used, as her school serves the school will continue to be the largest land mass in a resource. the county for elementary students. She made some Continued on page 2. house calls, too. Ashley Twitty addressing her staff at Pinnacle Elementary after Hurricane Helene.
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