SWANNANOA, N.C. (828newsNOW) — In the months after Tropical Storm Helene swept through Western North Carolina, many residents have been left with a familiar question: How vulnerable is my home or property to the next major storm?
Flooding, landslides and erosion across the region have prompted renewed focus on disaster preparedness, and a community event this weekend aims to help answer those concerns.
The “Swannanoa! Know Your Risks” event will be held 1-4 p.m. Saturday, May 30, at Warren Wilson College in the Gladfelter Student Center. Organizers say the drop-in session will connect residents with experts on flooding, wildfire risk and landslides, while also offering guidance on how to better prepare for future storms.
The first 30 people who register will receive a printed, parcel-level property risk assessment designed to help homeowners understand specific hazards that could affect their land and structures.
Following the impacts of Helene, organizers say the goal is to make risk information more accessible and actionable.
“Understanding your risks today can help guide future decisions around emergency planning, mitigation and long-term resilience,” event materials note.
The program is part of a broader Climate Smart Communities effort in Swannanoa led by groups including Swannanoa Grassroots Alliance, Fernleaf, and partners such as Appalachian Voices and Friends of the Fonta Flora State Trail.
In addition to expert-led breakout sessions, attendees can meet one-on-one with professionals working on resilience and hazard mitigation. Organizers say translation services in ASL and Spanish will be available, along with children’s activities and light refreshments.
While registration is required to receive the personalized property assessment, the event is open to the public.
Disasters, organizers said, don’t wait, and understanding local risks before the next storm could make a critical difference for homeowners across the Swannanoa Valley.