*SupportDuringHeleneRecovery

Dear Beloved friends, donors, and allies on this great mission in which you all enabled us to bring resources, time, energy, immense love, and sincere support to our community and these sacred mountains during this intense, and also extraordinary, time.

We send you all our prayers and blessings for a Merry Christmas in this beautiful season of Light. May each and everyone find a moment of reflection to hold the inner sanctum of peace and love, to help the light of Christ to return and rejoice with the revival of Light and God’s consciousness…

The experience from Hurricane Helene has changed us all, and is in no way over. There are still people rebuilding, businesses struggling, roads washed out, parks and trails closed, and entire industries and towns changed forever. That being said, the resilience and hard work that brought relief during this critical time was only possible with all the incredible outside assistance that came in from every possible angle and corner of the world. With the energy and support we received, it provided an immense opportunity to dedicate time and resources that went directly to those in need.

And so we can solemnly say, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you, thank you, thank you.

We are in no way stopping our efforts and involvement in the community, but we are closing this fundraiser in order to feel better about balancing our time with family needs and work alongside the continued outreach to help Western NC recover. Please know that every one of you is so cherished, so honored for your generosity, and so deeply valued for the prayers and wishes you sent to us. May you all be blessed!

And please reach out directly any time, we'd love to be in touch in person, and if you find yourself in Asheville or surrounds, we'd absolutely love to meet up.

-Michael and Nadine Brasunas

Dear friends, donors, loved ones, and all those who have been touched by the experience endured by
fellow humans who were greatly impacted by this storm, here’s the latest from on the ground in Western North Carolina:

As we laid out in our last update, over the past month our work shifted from the acute daily task of
bringing critical supplies towards more of the task of engagement into the coordinated efforts of several
organizations that have been extremely instrumental in the relief efforts here, specifically in the process of continuing to feed people and rebuilding and rehousing affected communities and individuals.

Life here, for many who were not directly physically impacted by the floods and winds that damaged
or destroyed houses, has somewhat returned to a general sense of normalcy. Many properties have been
cleared of debris, and roads and electric service generally restored. There are still impacts for us all with many businesses we once utilized being gone, hiking trails and parks we love still closed or permanently destroyed or covered in debris and downed trees, playgrounds and soccer fields flooded out, and crazy amounts of traffic because several key thoroughfares into and out of the region are still closed due to total washouts of bridges and interstate mountain passes, creating bottlenecks for both local and regional travelers.

However, for the most part, particularly since safe water was restored throughout the municipal
system in Asheville a few weeks ago (after being 6 weeks without potable water through the city, with
hotels and schools and restaurants closed), daily life is now stable, with many businesses reopened, and
commerce being restored. That being said, the storm damaged 120,000 homes in North Carolina alone, 6000 miles of roads, and 160 water and sewer systems, and so even after two months, the situation is very different for many of those who have not fared so well, whose homes were lost. And sadly, as we’ve acutely become aware, it could be a lot better if there was a greater response and adaptability with regards to government oversight, “red tape”, and the painfully slow changing of policies that are causing people to be still in a very precarious scenario, since many shorter term solutions to take care of basic needs get blocked by the authorities. As the winter cold has set in, we’ve desperately been trying to find solutions for people made homeless due to this storm. For people who own land or homes that were impacted, there’s been a mixed bag, because while an amazing amount of work has been done to bring temporary or long term solutions to them, such as repairing existing structures or building new ones--almost entirely by non-governmental organizations that have shown up to help--the situation particularly in Buncombe County, where Asheville sits, has been hampered due to overly strict permitting that limits many options. Since the mountains have never been hit by catastrophic damaging events or any mass casualty scenarios, there simply weren’t the systems in place to navigate the mid and long terms needs for this community to recover quickly. And for those people who were displaced but don’t own land or home the situation is really bad, and we are still assisting one particular couple who are living in a tent in a hidden place in the woods, baring the cold with the heaters and blankets and clothing we’ve given them. We’ve tried several options to get them somewhere more solid, but there’s a big list of people in this situation and not a lot of solutions.

Because while there are groups donating or building living structures, like hot tents with wood stoves,
campers, and tiny homes, for those without their own land, and a place to put something like that, they’re not able to receive that kind of support. Most of the hurricane shelters have closed down, and these people don’t want to be simply absorbed into the homeless community. As well, we heard that where private land was offered to put campers and tiny homes on to allow displaced people to live, the government shut it down, as they cite lack of septic or sanitary requirements, running water, public health concerns, etc. Essentially, they don’t want homeless encampments, and so people remain scattered and in a really difficult situation, basically falling into same problem that has created the already existent homeless crisis.

But all hope is far from lost, and some we’ve spoken to feel that come January 20th there may be some
shifts in the government that will help streamline some of the bureaucratic standstills. One of these is that FEMA is apparently in the process of redrawing the flood lines, but saying it’ll take them 18-24 months. This is unacceptable because before rebuilding of homes can fully happen in certain areas, the organizations we are working with have explained that they can’t confidently work until they know the locations of designated flood areas. If they don’t and build below where a key line ends up being drawn, than a house can be declared in a flood plain and have such high insurance costs that the owner would be essentially “under water” financially and also likely unable to sell. The hope is that pressure can be put on FEMA to streamline that process so that reconstruction can commence at a full scale. And since many areas and neighborhoods that flooded were nowhere near even the 500 year flood line, and people didn’t obviously have flood insurance, without knowing where the new lines will be drawn makes it very hard for people to know what to do on their property.

We have heard that even without an occupancy permit, because of stringent county building
regulations (since many properties were condemned by the county, but then subsequently repaired by
private groups after tearing out drywall and insulation quickly allowed structures to be saved before mold set in to the studs), generally the power company would not be able to turn back on electricity, but went ahead and provided power, knowing that people were now living again in these houses and needed heat. We don’t know if that is an exception or happening often, but while every day there are repairs and rebuilding efforts continuing, there are still entire neighborhoods waiting until the government gets their act together to enable approvals for permits and rebuilds. This particular neighborhood, called Beacon Village, is where this is a very clear issue. Here's a photo we took there last month:

In terms of meeting daily needs of people who lost property and resources, churches that operated as
distributions hubs, like fire stations already did back in October, have consolidated their supplies, often to warehouses, and gone back, in many cases, to normal operations. There’s still organizations providing meals, several distribution hubs that have committed to continuing through the winter, and one particular location, called Blunt Pretzels, where we’ve been donating propane, is still serving food to hundreds every day, until the spring at least. Here’s a news story that features them: (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/north-carolina-residents-lean-on-community-help-as-they-struggle-to-rebuild-after-helene)

Our work currently is focused on continuing to provide people with fuel for cooking and heating,
coordinating with organizations to redistribute supplies and donations, and also to find and support those in need of housing as the winter sets in and Christmas is around the corner. We also continue to donate some of the resources we’ve received to individual’s fundraisers where we see the funds are greatly needed, as well as to provide holiday gifts for children who’s family are in dire need.

We are so grateful for the support you all have provided in this time, and the outpouring of love. All this is a community effort, it takes a village, it takes kindhearted people to generate this kind of response. We feel Appalachia changed the way humanity can truly respond to a catastrophe, and turn it around for the betterment of all humanity.

With heartfelt love,

Michael and Nadine

Our update for 10/30/24: Hard Work...and Prayer,

Having clarified our current mission and intention, and observing the shift in the need for essential supplies to the need for housing for those displaced, we've set out over the past 6 days to develop opportunities for people to reestablish themselves and their lives now that the acute phases of "relief" and "recovery" have given way to that of "rebuilding". Unfortunately, some large organizations and government institutions are completing their work and/or pulling out, while others we are now closely working with have made it clear they are here for the long-term in order to see our region and our people rebuild. These are amazing people who have chosen to put their lives on hold since there are still so many that need support. And these organizations they've created were in many cases entirely birthed out of the Helene response, whereupon people have uncovered a new focus and intention to serve in this way.

We've heard that some temporary storm shelters are closing, which will render more people homeless, and so we are actively in the process of connecting those people with opportunities for housing. The government is offering to lease people's extra spaces to put people in, but many are leery of the red tape and fine print these arrangements would involve, and so, as with pretty much everything else that has been positive in this relief effort, the private individuals and organizations have really stepped up in massive ways, and we are seeing the path forward truly as a community supported grassroots effort.

There is a problematic component though because the supplying of roofed structures like sheds, yurts, campers, etc. and then finding places to put them for people who don't own land entails a coordinated effort to make things come together. And while some organizations have the resources and supplies, but need the contractors and subcontractors to build, others may have the contacts with local people who need the housing but not the places to put them, and so we are networking and building lines of communication and resource supplying in order to hopefully move things along in the right direction.

Meanwhile, we continue to support those in need that come our way. A few examples include supplying tanks of propane several days a week to a large outdoor kitchen that is serving 3 meals a day to hundreds in downtown Swannanoa (Blunt Pretzels), and caring for a newly engaged couple that lost their rental home, their jobs, and all their possessions. We've brought them loads of supplies to where they are camping in the forest near a main road, including a new tent, sleeping bags, pads, cookstove, food, propane, generator, gas, clothes, kitchen supplies, gear, etc. But we want to find them a more solid place to get through the winter, and it's the reality that many are in a situation like this that we simply cannot stop doing our work until we know people are taken care of.

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We are also deeply impacted by the eco-energetic repercussions that Helene has had upon our beloved landscape, and the impact of the pain and trauma that the earth, the rivers, the valleys, and the mountains hold. The people here are tough, resilient, and hard-working, and yet there is suffering, there is sadness, and there is so much destruction. And so, equal to that which we do on the physical plane, with the funds we receive, with the active work of relieving people's situations and supporting them with supplies, we also are consistently taking the time to enter the space of deep reflection, prayer, and attunement to the frequencies and vibrations of the living essential force of Nature, and pouring our loving intentions, our heartfelt longings, and the power of our spirits to revitalize and bring sustaining energies back into the spaces and places that flooded, that were damaged by wind and rain and mudslides, and where people's lives were impacted beyond all previously believed possibility.

We share here below a few photos from our time the other day at a very special place to us along the Swannanoa River where the trail we once walked many times with our children is now barely passable, smells of rotting dead animal, and is polluted and likely toxic as many people's septic systems were flooded, as well as industry and factories along the river upstream. We took some special moments to rejuvenate with a time of embodied reciprocity, to offer sacred prayers and sacraments/gifts to the Mother, to Nature, to the Spirits of the Lands and Waters there. And here are a few photos from that time. We invite you to connect also energetically through these pictures, and thank you all once again for everything you have done to make our mission possible!

In eternal service to our Great Mother,

Michael and Nadine

It's been 26 days since Hurricane Helene hit our region and in many ways we are still speechless at what it has done, how much it completely changed the landscape in so many areas. Speaking with volunteers who have shown up to help from all over the east coast and realizing that they don't know what it looked like before, and can only look at Google Street view to see it as it once was, it's difficult still to imagine how it will be possible for many of these places to return to the majestic landscapes they were. Places which have attracted millions of people every year to Western North Carolina, particularly during this time of the autumn colors, which are reaching their peak this week. Sadly, for the local economy, there's almost no visitors here. And here's a photo from driving around today where we were awed by the beauty of changing leaves:

And here's a short video we made of some places we were in the past few days:

https://youtu.be/k45qSDwQgA4

And a video we found (not our own) on YouTube that shows before and after shots from exact same angles, in Bat Cave and Chimney Rock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tbgQ1fROsE

Going into downtown Asheville, which is like a ghost town right now since the city water is still not potable and hotels are not welcoming guests, and seeing the streets empty and most restaurants still closed, our sights have turned to what is needed now to strengthen and bring resilience to our community, to the economy, to the people, and to serve towards bringing what is next for the recovery, next for us, and next for this beautiful place on the Earth. We see now that the initial phases of 1) Rescue and emergency medical services; 2) Bringing critical survival supplies; and 3) Essential resource delivery, are now transitioning towards what the middle and long term phases will look like. And with that being said, we are happy that the operation of supplying the remotest regions, and people hardest hit, with heaters, propane tanks, generators, cookstoves, winter clothes, blankets, and more has been greatly successful. And with power returning to some areas, and distribution centers stocked well in most places, we see that next phase of recovery coming into view and becoming our deeper purpose.

Distribution sites in Buncombe and Henderson County

And while we are still working closely with many of the families and small communities tucked away that have established relationships with whom have ongoing needs for things like gasoline for generators and the refilling of propane tanks, as well as supplying items like dehumidifiers and heaters to people who's in-home heating systems were flooded, we are setting our sights now on how we can support local businesses return to stability, how we can help people acquire sustainable and affordable housing, and how we can rebuild the community with a renewed and refreshed vision. We are calling this the WNC Resiliency Project, and are focused on several key goals:

-Working with local organizations and businesses to strengthen partnerships that are emerging out of this catastrophe, in order to develop greater means for people to live and thrive again in our region. This will include directing funds received to individuals and businesses that were greatly impacted so that they can reestablish themselves.

-Creating a charity non-profit which will acquire property and land where many small housing cooperatives can emerge, providing people with a roof over their head in order to reestablish a lifestyle that is productive and collaborative.

-Cultivating the wisdom that has organically developed out of this collective experience that we have all been a part of, and seeing how that can be deepened into ways in which humanity can return to a more wholistic, humble, communal, selfless, and interconnected way of relating, functioning, and developing the future. We believe that the whole world can learn from what we have witnessed occur within ourselves and amongst one another during this tragedy and it's incredible immediate response by tens of thousands. It's truly miraculous to observe now how differently people interact with one another, across social, political, racial, and religious backgrounds of all types. None of that has mattered one bit as we all focused on what is most essential, and universal for all.

And we intend that this experience and the benefits of this genuinely heart opening process are not forgotten, not here, and not anywhere else where the wisdom and spirit of communal action and selfless service and truly loving support can be taught and shared.

So if you are inspired or wish to be involved, please continue to support this beloved mission of ours, which is rooted in a long standing vision to co-create a pure and naturally regulated community based in spiritual and emotional aspiration, to bring forth the best in humankind, and to foster a center for healing, growth, and deep genuine lasting love.

With deepest gratitude,

-Michael and Nadine