University sets up special relief fund for Hendersonville students and employees

Wingate University has established the Hendersonville Campus Emergency Relief Fund to provide aid to students and employees affected by Hurricane Helene.

Helene dumped as much as 31 inches of rain on parts of Western North Carolina in less than two days late last week, swelling rivers, flooding towns and creating widespread power outages. Students and employees at the University campus in Hendersonville have reported massive property damage.

The lack of internet access and cell-phone coverage has made it difficult to contact students and employees, but over the weekend, Wingate staff determined that everyone at the Hendersonville campus is safe.

"We do know that there are some employees and students who have suffered catastrophic damage," says Dr. Karen Friel, vice provost for the Levine College of Health Sciences.

One student's car was totaled when flood waters rose eight feet high in her garage. Other students are essentially trapped on the second floor of their apartment building because the first floor has been destroyed. A professor lost nearly everything when his home flooded.

There is a severe lack of food and water in the area. All roads leading to Western North Carolina are closed because of damage and persistent flooding, and supplies are having to be airlifted into the area.

All classes on the Hendersonville campus have been canceled for the week. Just under 100 students study on the campus, in two programs: pharmacy and physician assistant studies. Ten employees work on the campus.

When classes resume, they are likely to be held for a time via Zoom. "The biggest thing that we're hearing is that even if the building opens, a lot of people probably can't get there," Friel says. "My mind keeps going to a 22-year-old who recently started in a professional program, is living alone in an apartment, in a place they don't know well, and now is basically cut off from the world. That's terrifying. Their parents can't get to them and they can't get home."

"Our hearts go out to our colleagues and students in Hendersonville," says Wingate President Dr. Rhett Brown. "The storm has been devastating, but our students and faculty and staff members have already shown incredible resilience. I know that over the next few weeks they'll need assistance getting back on their feet, and I'm sure the Bulldog family will be generous in its support."

The University has collected a list of resources for people affected by Hurricane Helene.

Sept. 30, 2024

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