By Jonathan Perry, Managing Attorney, Legal Aid of North Carolina – Morganton Office
This past week in Bakersville, NC, I witnessed both heartbreaking devastation and awe-inspiring human resilience. In the wake of recent flooding and widespread damage in Mitchell County, we spent the day helping people sign up for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) and FEMA relief. While providing computers and technical support, we quickly realized that this community’s needs extended beyond just paperwork. As the day went on, we began to encounter more traditional legal issues—housing, family law, and other challenges that our office at Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC) often addresses.
What has struck me most, however, is how deeply rooted the people here are in their independence and strength. In these mountain communities, asking for help is not common. Many of the individuals we worked with have no power, no water, and no idea when they’ll be able to return to normalcy. Yet, they are humble, gracious, and, in some cases, hesitant to accept assistance from outsiders. One elderly woman, who had lost access to both power and water, tried to pay me for a simple Diet Coke I offered her. It was a moment that captured the deep self-reliance ingrained in so many here.
In Mitchell County, the community has rallied together in ways that go beyond formal aid. At the Mitchell Senior Center, a woman who was a stay-at-home mom just two weeks ago is now leading an eight-person team, coordinating volunteers to answer calls and dispatch help. They’ve received 158 open requests for help, and they’ve answered each one with precision and care. Outside the center, volunteers cook free meals daily for anyone in need, providing supplies without question or charge. This effort is being led by former schoolteachers and retirees who have seamlessly transitioned into roles that serve their neighbors in ways they never imagined.
Driving through nearby Avery County, in small towns like Plumtree and Minneapolis, the devastation is even harder to grasp. Entire homes have washed away, cars remain overturned in the middle of rivers, and sides of mountains have vanished. Amidst this destruction, communities have taken it upon themselves to clear roads, cut up fallen trees for firewood, and ensure that their neighbors are cared for. Every church I passed was providing free clothing, food, and water to anyone who needed it.
Despite the overwhelming need, the people here do not ask for help. They continue to rebuild, quietly and resolutely. It’s only after establishing trust, after hearing that I once lived in these mountains, that they begin to accept the possibility of applying for government assistance. But time is of the essence. Our window to reach these communities, to offer them the help they need and deserve, is small. As we continue to assist at disaster recovery centers (DRCs), I hope we can extend our efforts deeper into these hard-hit areas, to build relationships and deliver aid before the door closes.
To my colleagues and partners, thank you for everything you are doing to support these efforts. Your work matters deeply, and together, we can make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
Jonathan Perry
Managing Attorney
Legal Aid of North Carolina – Morganton Office
This column shares Jonathan Perry’s firsthand experience in the recovery efforts following severe flooding in Western North Carolina, emphasizing the resilience of the local community and the importance of building trust to provide effective aid.
