Shirley has graciously given me the privilege of taking over her blog this week, and it feels like the perfect time to reflect on the past couple of months. As most of you know, Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina. I want to share some of my experiences and express deep gratitude on behalf of our entire Asheville office for the support of NTCA’s membership during this time.
Some friends in California recently asked me for emergency preparedness tips, as they are at risk of natural disasters. I didn’t answer with the usual five days of food and water, a radio with extra batteries or solar device chargers (although those are important). My number one tip is to get to know your neighbors.
Neighbors helping neighbors is how you survive. Neighbors caring for one another is how you recover. My neighbors risked their own safety to check on me in the middle of the storm when a large tree fell on my home. My neighbors and I fed 30 people a hot meal daily for almost two weeks. We made sure we all had what we needed each day. We hugged each other and cried together when we needed that, too.
This is not just the story of my street. This happened all over Western North Carolina.
It happened in West Jefferson, N.C. While Asheville made the national news, surrounding areas, like Skyline/SkyBest’s territory, were hit just as hard. Have you seen CEO Kim Shepherd’s video of thanks for the support from our industry? If not, stop reading this and watch it now to see how Kim and her team personify #MountainStrong. Its powerful imagery shows how Skyline’s NTCA neighbors came to their aid in a time of need. The NTCA Disaster Clearinghouse is one of those membership perks that goes largely unheralded — until you need it. I’ll never skip over one of the NTCA emails requesting disaster aid again.
Through this experience, I have come to understand that I have neighbors throughout rural America. My NTCA neighbors rallied around our Asheville staff in so many ways. Our employees were grateful and surprised to learn about an astonishingly generous staff relief fund that started at NTCA’s Fall Conference. Countless members and benefit plan participants we serve reached out to offer well wishes, concerns and prayers. Participants reaching out to our Benefits Resource call center first asked about the welfare of our team before starting a conversation about their own needs. They were patient, kind and supportive even when our services were disrupted.
I’m beyond thankful to confirm our staff are all safe. With communications down and roads closed, it took about three days to ensure all were accounted for. It was a nerve-racking time. Our team is dedicated and resilient, and I couldn’t be prouder of their response to restore our operations. Employees who happened to be outside the area kept Savings Plan contributions flowing to Fidelity, R&S Program payments to retirees and preparations progressing for the annual benefits open enrollment event. Our Arlington colleagues and our ever-resourceful Member Relations team figured out ways to handle critical needs while our office was closed for seven days. It took about two weeks after we reopened the office to get through the backlog from our shutdown. These are the neighbors I’m lucky to work shoulder-to-shoulder with each day.
So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving and at a time when I am keenly aware of how much I have to be grateful for, I want to thank my NTCA neighbors. I’ve known for years that our industry is a community, but recent events have given me a much deeper appreciation for just how vital that sense of community truly is. Thank you again for your support and patience. Stop by and knock on my door anytime, neighbor!