Citizen Stories
Forty Minutes From Fresh Water
“The smell alone, with no physical contact, is burning our eyes, nose and mouth…” – S. Rhodes
Life Is Surreal Since The Chemical Spill
“There is no trust. We have been violated and lied to.” – Linda Frame
Fending For Yourself
“If you don’t stick up for yourself the water company’s not going to stick up for you.” – William Holsting
West Virginia Pride
“West Virginians stay strong no matter what happens.” – Hannah Spencer
An Expanded Idea Of Leadership
“I’ve witnessed all these incredible people working together to fill truck after truck.” – Jen Osha Buysse
A Son’s Outrage
“My father’s water is an “unidentified substance” now.” – Dustin White
One Seriously Angry Granny
“The thing that scares me most is that I am certain that this was in the water long before residents discovered the spill.” – Linda Sodaro
Wary And Waiting
“Being a three-time cancer survivor makes me wary about the long-term effects of this.” – Karen Smith Zornes
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Signs of Life
In the Nantahala National Forest, a team of biologists spotted Indiana bats, an endangered species that hasn’t been seen in North Carolina for the last 11 years.
‘First Line of Defense’
During Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, rural fire departments and other first responder hubs played critical roles in keeping their communities safe, even without power and cut off from outside support for days or weeks after the storm. Two years later, plenty of work remains to ensure these hubs have the resources they need to operate day to day and be ready when emergencies or natural disasters strike.
The Rocky Road — and Bridge — to Recovery
Hurricane Helene is estimated to have damaged nearly 7,000 private roads and bridges in Western North Carolina. Two years later, many restoration projects are complete, but the journey hasn’t been easy — and isn’t over for others.
After 20 Years, Letcher County Prison Proposal Is Still Alive, Though Obstacles Remain
A $605 million proposal for a federal prison on a former strip mine site in Letcher County, Kentucky, championed by U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, refuses to die, despite local opposition, a lack of support from the executive branch and numerous other obstacles.
The Washout and Rebuild
For nearly two years, residents of Unicoi County, Tennessee, have had to make do without a hospital after Hurricane Helene destroyed the rural hospital. Ballad Health, which owns the hospital, broke ground on a new location — in another floodplain — in August 2026.
The Shenandoah Salamander
The Shenandoah salamander is a woodland salamander, which has adapted to life at higher elevations away from water. This sparkling rarity lives among the dry leaves, cracked logs, and stony hillocks on the highest peaks of Shenandoah National Park.
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