We didn’t quite expect a hurricane this year.
Just last week, we were gearing up to share all the exciting fall events on the horizon — a mix of charming and spooky fun.
Preparedness on the Plateau
Cashiers-Glenville Fire Department
Living in a highland rainforest climate at over 3,400 feet, we’re not exactly experienced at bracing for tropical storms or hurricanes like our friends on the coast. However, that didn’t mean we weren’t prepared. In fact, this recent event has shown that the Plateau was more than ready.
The past two weeks revealed something remarkable: this community doesn’t simply prepare for storms like Hurricane Helene — it’s ready for anything.
A place where resilience and unity are simply a way of life, no matter what comes our way. It is small town America with a big heart.
Community coming together
Beyond our preparedness, we see how the challenges of the past few weeks have brought out the true beauty of the Highlands-Cashiers plateau. Although the scenery around us can feel majestic, the special part of our community is all our neighbors. When we lost power and cell phone service, we were faced with limited communication and the ever-so-important, WI-FI.
Cashiers-Glenville Fire Department
Residents had to drive to the Cashiers Crossroads to connect to the Internet from the local coffee joint, Bucks. As the storm passed and we stepped outside, we realized we were all facing the same challenges. Immediately, neighbors rallied together, going above and beyond to help one another, tackling not just urgent tasks but so much more. There was a powerful sense of unity and reassurance, knowing we had each other’s backs, and there was no need to worry.
Some people picked up their chainsaws to clear trees from the road; other people banded together to feed hundreds of people.
In a matter of hours, this community had a plan in action that was always evolving to help more and more people. It was incredible how much this community did during this time.
Neighbor helping neighbor
At Cashiers Baptist Church, provisions, tools, and critical items were well-organized and distributed
Here are a few things that amazed us and made us feel so grateful to call Cashiers, NC home:
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- Hometown crews of the Cashiers-Glenville Fire Dept. & Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Squad at HQ helped all of us, 24/7 & tirelessly, while their families dealt with the same hurdles as everyone. These crews have been a major source of communication for us.
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- Cashiers Baptist Church became the primary hub for supplies, and on their own dime, provided three free meals a day for the entire community. They fed up to 700 people per day — no questions asked.
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- Blue Ridge School served free to-go lunches to the community, plus take-home breakfasts, fruit, and vegetables for the week.
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- The Cashiers Chamber kept us in the loop with updates all week.
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- With trees down all around us, the community banded together with the help of linemen/utility workers from all over the nation and Canadian crews from Quebec, of all places.
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- Out-of-state tree companies and our Jackson County crews, too, helped pave the way for power restoration. That’s not including all the civilians who cleared trees from driveways and roads for those in need.
It was all about love, neighbor helping neighbor.
Storm HQ at the Cashiers-Glenville Fire Department
Life, with what matters
One thing was clear. Life without power is still life, and life is a blessing!
Yes, we found ourselves switching on lights that wouldn’t turn on (and feeling a bit silly for it). But there was no time to sulk over what we lacked. While doing without, the sun still rose and set in the mountains. These days full of challenges were every bit as beautiful as the days before. We still had what mattered.
Hurricane Helene has been called a 1-in-1,000-year event for Western NC — something pretty rare. Years from now, this time won’t be remembered by what we didn’t have in Cashiers and Highlands, but instead by the renewed comforts of us coming together.
It reaffirms what was already true about our tight-knit community: we’re never alone.
