By: Stacey Baxter
Hurricane Helene hit the east coast of the United States and created devastation in its path. Latest reports indicate that death tolls have reached over 130 people, with entire towns being wiped out in its wake.
For the individuals and communities who survived the storm, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene has created an insurmountable amount of wreckage. Families have lost their homes and entire towns are left stranded without the means to leave or even get help. Cities like Asheville, North Carolina have seen some of the most destruction, leaving entire communities without electricity, shelter, or the ability to get basic necessities like food and water, along with communities in Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia feeling the wrath of Helene. Reports stipulate that over a million homes are without power along the destructive path of Hurricane Helene, creating even more dangerous circumstances for individuals already trying to survive this tragic storm.
Without power, individuals, families and entire communities are left isolated from the outside world. They are not able to communicate with emergency responders or family members checking for their well-being. They are not able to access life saving medical devices or even call for help. And as the devastation from this storm continues over the next several weeks and months, how do communities continue to provide basic functions to their constituents, like public education, without power?
During the pandemic, educational institutions shifted to home learning in order to continue providing education for students. In the current aftermath of Hurricane Helene, schools have been forced to remain closed without access to power, water, food, or even the basic structure of the building. What does an extended school closure mean for students’ academic success? Is learning from home the next step for schools without a reopening day in sight? If extended damage prohibits schools from reopening their doors, the burden of academic access shifts to families to provide home Internet and device access. Prior to Hurricane Helene, Census data shows that 14.1% of the population of Asheville, North Carolina lacked access to home Internet subscription. In a population of approximately 95,000 people, this equates to over 13,000 families without home Internet access. These numbers will increase exponentially, given the physical damage left by Hurricane Helene. Without access to the internet, so many elements of daily life are disrupted. Children are not able to access educational resources or participate in learning from home structures; families are unable to access telehealth services which are more affordable than in-person medical appointments; individuals are unable to apply for jobs or participate in the lucrative work-from-home job industry. Access to home Internet service is critical in today’s society and Hurricane Helene just caused a big problem.
Environmental disasters such as Hurricane Helene unfortunately highlight the issues of access, infrastructure, and network resiliency as it relates to broadband access. Without sufficient planning and funding for emergency weather disasters, communities are left without basic necessities.
