In Western North Carolina, Hurricane Helene has stripped the region of its appeal as a climate sanctuary

Three weeks after Hurricane Helene , thousands of Asheville residents still lack clean drinking water.

The storm unleashed catastrophic mudslides and flooding in the towns and villages deep in the mountains around Appalachian State University , one of the area’s major hubs.

Western North Carolina is caught between extremes of climate crisis: Some areas suffer droughts and wildfires, and others experience heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides.

These attitudes ignore the region's multicultural richness and resilience, says Mark Powell , director of App State’s creative writing department.

“I’m tired and sad and pissed off. Appalachia has been treated like an internal colony for 200 years ,” says Powell .