RALEIGH (October 17, 2024) – Hurricane Helene inflicted tens of millions of dollars of damage on UNC System schools, but “nothing catastrophic,” UNC System officials said today.
Jennifer Haygood, the System’s Chief Financial Officer, outlined preliminary estimates of damages at UNC Asheville, Appalachian State, Western Carolina, the NC Arboretum and the NC School of Science and Math’s Morganton campuses:
- $18 million in damage to capital facilities;
- $14 million in recovery costs that include debris cleanup, shelters and feeding first responders; and
- $19 million in near-term revenue losses due to cancelled events.
Kirk Bradley, Chair of the UNC Board of Governors’ Budget and Finance Committee, noted that the estimates are preliminary and construction costs are uncertain.
“These numbers will change,” he said.
System officials praised the cooperation among schools in the UNC System – Haygood gave a special shout-out to UNC Greensboro and UNC Charlotte for housing students who were displaced from UNC Asheville.
System President Peter Hans said 5,000-10,000 trees fell at the NC Arboretum in Asheville, which remains closed. Dining teams kept making meals for students and first responders, he said, and faculty and staff showed up to help students even when their own homes were damaged.
And a security officer at UNC Asheville helped save multiple lives in the Garren Creek community in Buncombe County even though he lost 11 members of his own extended family.
“He told me he was blessed,” Hans said.
Appalachian State resumed classes Wednesday, and UNC Asheville plans to resume at least online classes Oct. 28.
Hans and Haygood both voiced worries about retaining students in the spring, especially at UNC Asheville, which has struggled with enrollment in recent years. Many UNC System schools have waived application fees for students from hurricane-damaged counties.1
Hans said university officials are exploring incentives with legislative leaders similar to what UNC schools offered after Hurricane Florence in 2018.
The NC State Education Assistance Authority has about $7 million available that could be used to provide students at Appalachian, UNC Asheville and Western Carolina who qualify for Next NC scholarships as much as $850 per student, Hans said.
Hans said the UNC System will first tap insurance policies for its capital needs, then look to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and finally to the state.
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