Greetings from Montreat! The one-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene’s visit to Montreat passed this week and we continue to experience good news in our ongoing efforts to return to normal programming here at the Montreat Conference Center. As stated in our last communication, we are looking forward to hosting our annual College Conference @ Montreat during the first week of January as scheduled. In addition, though the Assembly Inn is not ready to receive guest groups, our staff is preparing to host our traditional Thanksgiving dinner for the community in the Galax Dining Room.
Progress toward normalcy continues to be powered by a committed maintenance team that is both supervising contractors on site and putting in full days themselves to bring our facilities back online. Together with input from our program and hospitality staff, renovation efforts are focusing on the facilities needed first, with summer facilities scheduled to be renovated in the months following.
While we are currently housing two groups who are conducting relief and reconstruction efforts, these groups are self-sufficient, used to roughing it, and require minimal hospitality service and staff support. Not the type of guest group we typically host, these groups are performing essential services around the Swannanoa Valley. Helping to make that possible is important for us, but it’s not a revenue strategy. Again, returning to normal programming remains our essential task.
One major project moving forward is the renovation of Lake Susan. Previously scheduled to take place this fall, the renovation was complicated by the storm, which dumped an estimated 10,000 cubic yards of debris and mud into the lake basin and on top of the 6,000 cubic yards that already needed removing. Plans and timelines were revised, and passersby will notice heavy equipment moving in to transport that debris out of the lake, with estimated completion by late December. Following this critical phase, we will need to add landscape to complete the renovation.
On Volunteering
Helene inflicted unprecedented damage – on Montreat, on the surrounding valley, on families of neighbors and friends and staff. Homes and livelihoods have been lost. Fortunately, the outpouring of support and encouragement has been tremendous. Municipalities, first responders, churches, and agencies have received an amazing response in cash donations, food, clothing, and daily necessities. We are so grateful, and now we are hearing clearly that you want to do more – that you are ready to travel here, volunteer, and dig in to support those in need and help get our valley back on sound footing.
The time is coming when we will be ready to welcome that support. For now, the conference center is still housing groups like the ones noted above, those who are well-experienced and skilled in immediate disaster response. As we prepare for the next phase of volunteer engagement in Montreat, we have two goals in focusing the new work to be done:
- Using volunteer power to help us resume our regular programs and activities as soon as possible.
- Leveraging our facilities and contacts (with churches, with our denomination, and with our community) in the best way possible to support the recovery efforts in our region. The long-term needs will be great as people struggle to repair and replace housing, find ways to keep their businesses open, and restore the infrastructure and facilities in this beautiful area.
To meet these goals, we are, or soon will be:
- Working hard to restore our facilities so that we can accommodate guests and host programs. While we were spared major damage, the intrusion of storm water across many of our buildings requires cleaning and replacement of flooring, new sheetrock, insulation, etc. As stated, we plan to be ready to receive guests and scheduled activities before the end of the year.
- Cataloging the needs of our outdoor spaces. Cleaning up and repairing our exterior campus – including parks, trails, and areas around Lake Susan – are key to restoring functionality and the beauty of the Montreat experience.
- Working with churches and agencies to meet needs. We have already contacted several service organizations that want to come to our area and are also in conversation with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and Western North Carolina Presbytery, all in an effort to identify opportunities and support recovery efforts.
- Identifying volunteer groups and matching their interests, skills, and availability with those identified needs.
How you can help:
- Keep your prayers and donations coming. As the need for supplies and resources shifts with the ongoing progress and the change of seasons, we will keep you informed on what is needed and where as we are able.
- Think long-term. The need in Montreat will last for several months and in the area for much longer.
- Be flexible. As you ponder how you can help, make yourself as available as you can to support the identified needs that are communicated – not only by Montreat but by all of the agencies working diligently in the area.
- If you are registered to attend an event or retreat taking place from January forward, please keep your reservation! We have been fielding a lot of questions about logistics and plan to host some online informational sessions soon to answer some of these questions about our larger events in real time. More info to come soon about these.
- If you are planning to be here in 2025 and have not registered, please do!
If you’ve been reading along the last few weeks, you’re getting the facts as we learn them, so help us spread the word that we are on our way back. Yes, Montreat suffered significant damage to its infrastructure, landscape, and to several buildings and homes, but you can let people know that signs of progress appear here every day. Remind people that for all of its gorgeous surroundings, Montreat’s greatest beauty is revealed in the strength and support of those who love it, another daily trend that shows no signs of slowing down. Tell people that Montreat is going to be fine, and soon.
Thanks in advance for that, and for all you are doing. More to come!
Richard DuBose
President, Montreat Conference Center
P.S. Jeannie and I attended a Sam Burchfield concert in Asheville a couple of weeks ago. Some of you may know Sam from his days in Montreat on Summer Staff and/or may be following his music career. In any case, Sam performed a song about the hurricane that evening that lifted my spirits – thought I’d share it for those interested.