I’m still processing the incredible conversation I just had with Emma Churchman about Hurricane Helene’s impact on Western North Carolina. Living just outside Taylorsville myself, I witnessed the storm’s fury firsthand, but what Emma experienced in those mountains takes my breath away. When that unprecedented storm hit their community, no one could have predicted the 32-foot river surge that would cut them off from civilization for weeks.

From Crisis to Community Leadership

Here’s what blows my mind: while 300 residents were completely isolated, without power or communication, Emma stepped up in an extraordinary way. With her background in trauma chaplaincy, she became the emotional anchor at their local fire station. What she discovered about how people process disaster-related trauma is going to change how we think about community recovery.

A New Model for Disaster Response

Emma walked me through the four distinct phases of trauma recovery she identified during this crisis – something nobody in disaster response has documented before. I’ve got to tell you, her insights are revolutionary. She’s now turned these observations into a comprehensive trauma recovery program that fills a massive gap in how we handle disasters.

The Path Forward

With recovery costs hitting $53.6 billion, the road ahead is long. But Emma’s new book, The Deep End of Hope in the Wake of Hurricane Helene, isn’t just another disaster story – it’s a roadmap for any community facing overwhelming challenges. She proves that even in our darkest moments, transformation isn’t just possible – it’s inevitable if we choose to show up.