Asheville resident creates community hub for future disasters
By WLOS Staff
Click here for updates on this story
ASHEVILLE, North Carolina (WLOS) — Immediately after Helene – communities across western North Carolina were without key resources like power and clean water, in some cases for weeks on end.
Neighbors stepped up to help each other back in 2024. Now a west Asheville resident is preparing for the chance of another disaster.
The Howlery founder and owner Shawndra Russell is transforming her 100-year-old home to serve as a disaster-proof community hub.
The Howlery held an open house for those interested in learning more about the project.
It is a private membership association that offers overnight stays, doggie daycare, community meals and weekly campfires to bring people together and build a stronger network of neighbors.
“All of these lessons that I’ve learned since Helene and all the hardships, losing two businesses -everything that’s happened. This space is an answer to all of those things that we lacked right after the storm,” Russell said.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.