Message from Interim Chancellor Heather Norris

My heart is with the entire Western North Carolina community and beyond as we begin to assess and respond to the devastating flooding and storm damage that have impacted our region, including our sister institutions in the mountains.

Since early in the week, App State staff have been working around the clock to prepare for, and then respond to, Hurricane Helene. The level of devastation it has brought to our region is massive. Some of our staff members have significant damage to their homes, and some haven’t seen their families since the storm began — yet, they are focused on serving others. We are operating with a smaller than usual essential staffing team, because some — despite wanting to be here — cannot get here to help.

Assessment of the damage and recovery from it will take time. We appreciate the close collaboration with the Town of Boone, Watauga County, American Red Cross, the UNC System, and local, state and federal agencies.

As we move from emergency response to impact assessment and recovery, we are focused on the safety and well-being of our campus community.

I cannot say enough about how much I appreciate App State’s selfless, dedicated team of staff:

• The Landscape Services crew, who began around-the-clock shifts in advance of the storm to clear drains for stormwater runoff and continued with removal of trees and debris that have fallen,
• The Campus Dining team, who has prepared and served more than 25,000 meals to campus and community members,
• App State Police officers and staff, who have been keeping our campus safe and assisting local law enforcement,
• Our emergency management team, who has been coordinating an incredible effort to support thousands in need on campus and in our community,
• The Facilities Management teams, who have been working to assess and respond to the damages impacting campus,
• Holmes Convocation Center staff and the many others from areas across campus, who helped the Red Cross open a community shelter and distribute 82 cases of bottled water at the College Street Circle, 
• Our campus medics, who have been responding to campus medical calls and providing support to the county, helping free up resources for broader community response,
• The Student Affairs teams, who have kept the Student Union open, opened the Student Recreation Center and provided health care to students,
• Our University Communications team, who has been working with limited infrastructure to get critical information to our campus community and document the disaster for relief aid,
• App State’s New River Light & Power crews, and those from across the state who have traveled to assist them, who have kept the power on for our on-campus students, and have been working to restore power to multiple service areas with downed trees and power lines, and
• The student volunteers who have helped distribute food and water, staffed the Student Union and Community Shelter, and helped wherever needed.

Thank you all so much for your dedication to our community.

I’d like to thank everyone for their understanding as we focused initial communications on providing critical information to our students, faculty and staff. Please note we will continue to post updates on our emergency website: appstatealert.com.

The Hickory campus has no significant issues. On the Boone campus, we have been able to maintain continuity of power, water and internet, with only short interruptions. Our residence halls are safe and largely unaffected. Our classroom buildings have not fared as well. We are still assessing the magnitude of the damage. Crews are roping off dangerous areas on the Boone campus and restricting them to emergency personnel only.

We have canceled all classes and have limited operations to only essential personnel through 5 p.m. Friday, October 4.

Road conditions in the Boone and Watauga County area are treacherous in many places, and mobile communications and internet service are extremely limited throughout the region. Many roads, parking lots and sidewalks in the Boone area have unstable sections, washed-out areas or are structurally compromised. There are a number of trees and tree limbs down on campus and in the community. For those students who are leaving the area to be with their families and those families who are traveling to pick up your students, please proceed with extreme caution.

Many of you have generously asked how you can support our students, faculty and staff. We’ve established a Disaster Relief Fund for those who wish to help, and will share information with our campus community on how to request relief funds as soon as possible.

In the meantime, those in immediate need of shelter should call 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767). The Red Cross is also accepting donations at this same phone number. We thank the many Red Cross volunteers who are supporting our community.

I would like to appeal to those of you who have received this message to please help share this information with those who have less ability to connect and communicate. If you know of students, faculty and staff who are not receiving their campus emails, please reach out and share what we’ve posted on appstatealert.com.

My heart is full of gratitude for this incredible Mountaineer community. We have a long way to go to fully recover. In tough times, Mountaineers lean on one another. I thank you all for your commitment to caring for one another — and please remember to take care of yourselves.

Heather Norris
Interim Chancellor