How can a mountain town, hundreds of miles from the ocean, be expected to defend itself from a major hurricane? That's what the residents of Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding Blue Ridge mountains had to be asking themselves on Friday, September 27th, the day Hurricane Helene took a devastating path through the region.

In this episode we return to the story of our first-ever N/ATION road trip back in February. On that day we experienced the AVL that we know and love; clear blue skies, and a cold, crisp air that only the mountains can deliver. We happily strolled through The Marquee during that trip in the artist-haven River Arts District, also home to the Southeast's first non-alcoholic bottle shop, NoLo.

Fast forward to today. We sit down for a remote discussion with NoLo's new owners Jennifer and Jason Phillips, who had helmed the business for all of 57 days before Helene's arrival. In our conversation we talk about what the situation on the ground looks like one month out from the storm, which decimated an estimated 80% of the structures in the River Arts District, including The Marquee, as part of a wider impact to WNC. We also talk about the value of community in times like these, and how that has helped them begin the recovery process. Lastly, we talk about what's next for NoLo as well as the city after the "biblical" event. While the storm may have washed away the physical store, it hasn't dampened the Phillips' passion for serving the sober and sober curious community in their beloved town.

Links/Resources for those who would like to responsibly visit or support Western North Carolina: 

• VisitNC.com 
• DriveNC.gov (up-to-date road conditions and closures)
• Explore Asheville  (shop, support and donate to AVL businesses)
• Bright Barrel Brewing (fellow WNC NA business now helping to supply water)
• Jeter Mountain Farm

Recommended options to support the local community (from NoLo):  

• MANNA FoodBank - Asheville NC
• Brother Wolf Animal Rescue
• World Central Kitchen (still on the ground feeding WNC every day)
• American Red Cross North Carolina (home and disaster support for WNC)
• RADA Hurricane Relief Fund (River Arts District Artists, Inc.)
• Always Asheville Fund (helps small independent travel/hospitality businesses)
• Global Empowerment Mission Small Business Relief Fund (You Tube video)
• Rebuild Marquee Asheville (NoLo's original space, home to 300 artists) 

How to support NoLo:

• Follow them on IG
• Visit their website, and subscribe to Nolo News
• Visit WNC and stock your VRBO/Airbnb with NA. 

We'd love your feedback!