Henderson County Encourages Community Involvement in Hurricane Helene Recovery
Residents of the Bat Cave area in Henderson County are being urged to participate in shaping their community’s recovery from Hurricane Helene. A community meeting is scheduled for August 19 at the Bat Cave Baptist Church, where local voices will be heard.
This gathering is the latest effort by the county to engage residents of Hickory Nut Gorge, which includes Gerton, Bat Cave, and parts of Edneyville, in their ongoing recovery process. Previously, the county hosted a resource fair and a commission meeting to address residents’ concerns regarding inadequate support for debris removal, road repairs, and public safety.
In an effort to better understand the community’s needs, the county has initiated a survey for residents. Additionally, Equinox consultants have been hired to assist in creating a comprehensive recovery plan.
The survey results will be analyzed by a Community Partners Group, comprising nine members, including property owners, renters, and individuals associated with local schools and businesses. Former officials from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, fire departments, emergency management, and Conserving Carolina will also contribute to the group’s efforts.
Janna Bianculli, assistant planning director for Henderson County, expressed hope that the community feels supported and engaged, stating, “I hope that they feel heard, that they feel part of Henderson County, that there’s still a community that they belong to, and that the greater community has empathy and concern, wants to see them succeed and rebuild and become themselves again.”
The county aims to develop a long-term Hickory Nut Gorge Land Use Recovery Plan by December 2025. This plan will guide recommendations for the county commission on various recovery strategies. Potential focus areas include river and ecological restoration, hazard mitigation, transportation and utility improvements, economic development, public health, and recreation.
Despite the area’s population of nearly 1,000, fewer than 100 residents have participated in the survey. County officials hope that the upcoming meeting will not only increase awareness of the survey but also provide residents with an opportunity to express their recovery-related concerns.
Henderson County Planning Director Autumn Radcliff emphasized the importance of community input, noting, “The survey information and the community meeting will help inform us on some of the community. We’ve heard from some of them – some of their desires, some of their concerns. So it’ll kind of give us a gauge of really, as a whole, where everyone is.”
The meeting will be held on August 19, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Bat Cave Baptist Church, located at 5095 Chimney Rock Rd., Hendersonville, NC 28792.
