Reflections on Community after Hurricane Helene 

Downed power lines. Hundreds of thousands without power. Trees falling and hitting houses and vehicles. Flooding. Hurricane Helene brought cataclysmic damage to the Carolinas sending whole cities and towns into panic. And yet, we have seen communities come together. Homes that experienced the blessing of not losing power were opened for people to shower, do their laundry, and charge their devices. Generators were given to those most in need. Meals were made and shared, and neighborhood response teams were organized. While the damage is still being assessed and the recovery has only just begun, I wanted to write a reflection on the truths that this experience has revealed to me about the work of community building. 

Community Takes Sacrifice of Personal Comfort 

Let’s face it…community is hard work. You have people of great difference seeking to build a common life together. Globalization has led to an increasing number of communities that are experiencing the tension of multiple languages, cultures, and faith traditions all in one geographic area. While it may have been more common in past generations to have societies divided by ethnicity or income level, this appears to be shifting. With this change comes a host of unique challenges that are going to require seeing ourselves as more than a set of personalities and preferences. Rather, we must see ourselves as part of something greater than our individual desires. This does not mean that we must give up our traditions, our cultures. Though, it does mean that we find ways to come together across those differences for the sake of the common good.  

Community Takes Creativity 

As communities continue to diversify, creative solutions are required to address the needs that have arisen out of these developing societal conditions. In the aftermath of Helene here in South Carolina, ingenuity was displayed in the creation of makeshift neighborhoods housing thousands of linemen working to restore power, the ways in which churches and businesses used their facilities for community care, how people found ways to provide for their families in the absence of electricity, and in countless other instances. It was a revelation that communal living requires finding new and unique ways to address problems. With our country currently experiencing extreme polarization over cultural and political differences, maybe it is time to utilize our God-given creativity as many have done over these past few days to transcend the divides of our society.

Community Takes Showing Up Time and Time Again 

While the initial response to the devastation of Helene has been encouraging, inevitably the spotlight will fade as the rebuilding efforts begin. In Western North Carolina, where the major effects of the storm were most felt, this rebuilding will take years. It will be a slow and painful process of restoring whole towns and cities and finding ways to increase resiliency if God forbid, another similar event occurs in the future. After the donation drives wrap-up and the cameras leave town, the journey to a new normal will have only just begun. Community building requires a faithful commitment to show up time and time again even when those efforts do not bring public attention. Trust is not built with one act of service or a short-term offer of commitment that eventually burns out. It is developed through a steady presence that is consistent over time. It is created through ordinary acts of love: a meal given to a sick neighbor, a weekly visit to the local nursing home, serving as a board member in the local neighborhood association. These are examples of selfless acts that serve as fuel for rootedness in a particular place for a particular people. May the response to Helene be an encouragement that while rapid action is necessary in certain situations, there is no substitute for the flame of faithfulness that continues to burn far after the sharp pain of tragic loss has faded.

Community Matters Because People Matter 

Even amidst the grief over the physical possessions that were lost in the storm, the central focus has rightly been on people. While the houses, vehicles, and other property that was lost may have some value in and of itself, ultimately, they were symbols of safety, security, and agency for human beings of infinite value. For example, a house allows a family a foundation from which to build a life. A vehicle gives an individual agency to provide for themselves and others. Internet gives the ability for individuals to communicate and to stay connected. And even so, when the storm cleared and the property damage was assessed, the focus quickly turned to sustaining one another.  

Community ultimately matters because people are involved. This may seem obvious. We care about people. And yet, this fundamental idea has often been lost in the current environment in which we find ourselves. Our culture of divisive rhetoric and a hyper-individualism has led to the delusion that we are stuck in a zero-sum game where the flourishing of another necessarily requires someone else to be left out. Instead, the response to Helene has shown that when a community can come together for the sake of its most vulnerable, everyone is able to experience the benefits that this brings. God’s intended purpose for humanity is that all people are respected because of the dignity that comes from being made in God’s image. Rather than seeing the flourishing of others as a threat to our own blessings, the response to Helene has shown that we can all experience the gifts of God’s intended purpose for community together.  

Questions for Reflection:

1. In what ways have you personally experienced or witnessed others sacrificing personal comfort for the sake of community?
2. What is a current need you observe in your community? Can you think of a creative solution to address this need?
3. How can you, in your daily life, prioritize the well-being and dignity of others? 
4. How can moments of disaster bring out the best in communities?
5. How can we sustain that spirit of unity and cooperation beyond the immediate aftermath?

Austin Donahoo is the Senior Advocacy Specialist for World Relief Upstate SC. In his role, he aims to educate church and community leaders about the biblical call to love their neighbors well and how they can fulfill this calling in tangible ways. He has a degree in Christian Ministry from North Greenville University and is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School. In his spare time, he enjoys being with his family and staying involved in his local church. Austin loves specialty coffee, books, and Chick-fil-A. He is passionate about Christian theology, advocacy, and public policy.