When Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina, the devastation left communities like Burnsville and Spruce Pine with damaged landscapes, disrupted services, and urgent infrastructure needs. Among the many challenges was restoring utilities quickly and building a foundation for long-term recovery.
At WEFTEC 2025, WithersRavenel’s Carolyn Hawkins, Director of Water/Wastewater Treatment, will present “Hurricane Helene Impact on Western North Carolina Infrastructure: Burnsville & Spruce Pine” as part of the Natural Disaster Response and Recovery: Sharing Lessons Learned session. This interactive technical session takes place on Monday, September 29, from 1:30–3:00 PM, with Carolyn presenting from 2:20–2:30 PM in Room S401c, Level 4 at McCormick Place.
Carolyn’s presentation will offer a firsthand perspective on how utility systems were assessed and stabilized in the immediate aftermath of the storm. Attendees will gain insight into:
- Rapid field assessments under resource and communication constraints
- Interim solutions to restore essential services for residents
- Collaboration strategies between emergency responders, local governments, and utilities
- Tools and protocols, such as hydraulic modeling and operational analysis, that guided decision-making
By focusing on Burnsville and Spruce Pine, Carolyn will illustrate how engineering teams overcame obstacles to protect public health and safety while laying the groundwork for recovery. Her lessons learned provide practical takeaways for communities working to strengthen infrastructure resilience against future disasters.
As the largest water quality event in North America, WEFTEC 2025 provides a vital platform for sharing knowledge, strategies, and solutions that shape the future of water management. Carolyn’s contribution adds an essential perspective on disaster response and recovery that will benefit engineers, utility leaders, and public works professionals alike.