Virginia’s Community Colleges respond to widespread storm damage in Southwestern Virginia

Given the scope of destruction from Florida through North Carolina, it's no surprise that most media attention has been focused there in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. But when still-powerful remnants of the hurricane drenched Southwest Virginia at the end of September, flooding and high winds from the storm caused widespread damage that will take months or even years to repair.

To learn more about how you can help, please see below.

"We are working to help students who were impacted by the storm with their immediate needs, including gas cards, bottled water, food boxes, diapers, and other basic living necessities," said Renee Thomas, Dean of Student Success and Academic Development at Wytheville Community College.

Our colleges in the region wasted no time responding. Wytheville, Virginia Highlands, Mountain Empire, Southwest Virginia and New River Community Colleges have shared food and other resources with students and community residents who suffered losses from the storm.

Our five colleges in the region report they did not suffer any significant damage to their facilities, but power and other utility outages and thousands of downed trees forced class cancellations for several days. College food pantries were tapped and our colleges opened-up their buildings to students and local residents who needed a place to recharge their batteries and access the Internet…or in some cases, even a chance to get a warm shower.

"Many students and some employees are still unable to be on campus" said Laura Pennington, VP of Institutional Advancement at Virginia Highlands. "Our faculty are offering high-flex options to ensure that students don't miss important instructional content, and staff in other front-line areas continue to support students with food, transportation, replacing lost learning resources, and referrals to community-based organizations."

"We've heard from students and families who, because of power outages, have lost the food they had frozen for the winter," said Amy Greear, VP of Institutional Advancement at Mountain Empire Community College. "For many, that loss is an enormous issue."

How to help:

The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) is seeking resources to help. The Emergency Fund for Community Colleges of Southwest Virginia will collect donations and then distribute them to the five colleges, who have on-the-ground knowledge of local needs.

An early assessment from those colleges identifies an urgent need for funds for food, gas, temporary housing, and replacement of damaged instructional materials like textbooks and laptops.

"Some students and families have lost everything, yet many of our students are determined to go back to college," said VFCCE Executive Director Jennifer Gentry. "We're so grateful to our colleges who are assisting in so many ways. We have an opportunity to help them and help our fellow-Virginians."

"Responding to the needs of our communities is in the best traditions of our community colleges and embodies our determination to do more to help students during emergencies, one of the goals we set in our new system-wide strategic plan," said VCCS Chancellor David Dore. "I hope our colleagues statewide will offer a helping hand at this time of need."

The VFCCE set up a fast and easy way to contribute to the emergency fund online. You can find out more here.

Meanwhile, Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin gives federal officials credit for quickly declaring disaster relief for Southwestern Virginia. "At the state and local level, we will remain continually engaged to ensure Virginians get the support and help that they need in the aftermath of this powerful storm," said Youngkin. "I am proud of Virginia first responders for their assistance, the grit and resilience of Virginians and together, we will get through this." Learn more about how multiple agencies are responding.

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