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After a massive earthquake off Russia triggered a Pacific tsunami, people began asking: could a tsunami reach coastal North Carolina? In this episode of Shoresides, we talk with **Stephen Pfaff**, meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service’s Wilmington office, about how tsunamis form, the real risk (or lack thereof) for our shores, and how preparedness — from early warning systems to public education — can make all the difference when seconds count.

We also explore how underwater geography, monitoring equipment, and interagency coordination shape our readiness — and what coastal communities and leaders can do now to stay safe.

Links:

8.8 magnitude earthquake latest: Volcano erupts in Russia, tsunami waves reach California

https://abcnews.go.com/US/tsunami-watch-issued-hawaii-after-80-magnitude-earthquake/story?id=124190121

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According to research conducted by Shoresides, the National Weather Service Office  in Wilmington, North Carolina, which played a pivotal role in predicting and tracking Hurricane Florence in 2018, may now be understaffed. In this episode of Storm Stories, we hear from the meteorologist at Joe Zambon about the 2025 hurricane season and the challenges of forecasting the next  N.C. storm under new federal budget cuts. 

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When people living with HIV in coastal North Carolina talk about how they prepared for Hurricane Florence, their considerations are about the same as the average person – with exceptions.

HIV-positive community members have to think about their medications – how they’ll get them and where they’ll store them. They have to think about access to healthcare, and whether they feel comfortable disclosing their status to whoever they stay with during the storm. And the anxiety that accompanies these considerations is much like the anxiety people are feeling during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Storm Stories is a collection of stories about the effects of hurricanes. This podcast and radio series explores resilience and recovery in the coastal region through local stories.

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Illicit drug users face unique challenges during disasters like Hurricane Florence and COVID-19. What happens when dealers leave town or shelter-in-place? How do overdose rates change? Find out on this week’s episode of Storm Stories.

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Welcome to Storm Stories, a Shoresides original podcast, where we explore the human experiences and science behind hurricanes in North Carolina. Host Rend Smith speaks with Imhotep Dlanod, a musician displaced by Hurricane Katrina who is now facing the impacts of storms and flooding in Asheville. Alongside Imhotep's reflections on resilience and culture, meteorologist Joe Zambon from Fathom Science provides expert insights into the increasing severity of these weather events. From personal stories of survival to the science of storm patterns, Storm Stories uncovers how communities endure and adapt. Listen in wherever you get your podcasts.

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After a hurricane upends everything, the void left behind—solastalgia—can be as destabilizing as the storm itself. In this episode of Storm Stories, we hear from Angie Bailey of North Carolina’s Broadband Infrastructure Office on efforts to bridge the digital divide, ensuring communities aren’t cut off when they need connectivity the most. And in Utica, Mississippi, Carlton Turner reflects on bringing internet access to his town while grappling with the social and political costs of digital expansion.

How to Evaluate Broadband Access in Your Community: A 10-Step Guide for Local Leaders

Access to reliable and affordable broadband is essential for education, work, healthcare, and economic growth. Yet, many communities still struggle with slow speeds, high costs, and service gaps. If you’re a community leader looking to assess broadband access in your area, here’s how you can take action.

1. Start with a Listening Tour

Talk to residents, schools, businesses, and healthcare providers about their internet experience. Are there dead zones? Is service too expensive? Does it support remote work and learning? Gather real stories to guide your efforts.

2. Run a Community Speed Test Campaign

Encourage residents to test their internet speeds using tools like the FCC’s Speed Test app or Measurement Lab. This will help you compare actual performance against what providers advertise.

3. Identify Areas Without Service

Map out which neighborhoods have little or no broadband access. This may include rural areas, low-income neighborhoods, or places where providers claim to offer service but don’t.

4. Survey Households and Businesses

Create a simple online and paper survey asking residents about their internet provider, cost, reliability, and whether they feel their needs are being met. Schools and libraries can help distribute surveys.

5. Check Internet Affordability

Investigate broadband prices in your area and whether residents can afford them. See if people qualify for federal programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) but aren’t using them.

6. Meet with Internet Providers

Set up meetings with local broadband providers to discuss coverage gaps, speed concerns, and future expansion plans. Ask about any upcoming infrastructure upgrades or partnerships they might be open to.

7. Look for Funding Opportunities

Many state and federal grants exist to expand broadband access, such as the BEAD Program (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment). Work with local government or nonprofits to explore funding options.

8. Build a Coalition for Change

Bring together schools, businesses, healthcare organizations, and local government to advocate for better broadband. Strong partnerships can drive real improvements.

9. Push for Policy Changes

If outdated regulations or monopoly control are blocking better service, work with elected officials to explore policy solutions, such as municipal broadband or open-access networks.

10. Keep the Pressure On

Broadband expansion takes time. Keep tracking progress, sharing updates with your community, and holding providers and policymakers accountable until real improvements happen.

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This is the story of a beach storm no one saw coming—and the lessons we can’t afford to forget. In this episode of Storm Stories, Mayor Lynn Barbie of Carolina Beach helps us look back at the intense rainfall that hit Carolina Beach last year—a slow-motion disaster with no howling winds, no storm surge, just rising water and a community left to pick up the pieces. As the media focused on the devastating impacts of Helene and Milton, this storm and how it affected coastal North Carolina was easy to miss, as well as what happened after.

Three steps we can take to build resilience and foster community collaboration:

1. Advocate for Improved Stormwater Management

• Residents can attend town hall meetings and voice support for investments in stormwater infrastructure, including upgrading drainage systems, retention ponds, and permeable surfaces.

• Encourage local officials to apply for state and federal grants focused on flood mitigation.

2. Promote Community Flood Preparedness

• Form or join a local resilience task force to develop neighborhood-based flood preparedness plans.

• Organize workshops with local meteorologists and emergency managers to educate residents on flood insurance, evacuation procedures, and emergency supply kits.

3. Support Sustainable Land Use Policies

• Advocate for responsible zoning laws that limit development in low-lying, flood-prone areas.

• Encourage nature-based solutions like restoring wetlands, increasing green spaces, and maintaining coastal vegetation to absorb excess water.

• Partner with environmental organizations to monitor and maintain stormwater management systems.

Taking these steps would not only build resilience within the community but also foster collaboration between residents, policymakers, and environmental experts

Photographer: Callaghan O’Hare/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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In 2018, Hurricane Florence devastated coastal North Carolina, leaving Yvonne Pittaway’s home in Carteret County torn apart, and her missing it. After Hurricane Helene tore through North Carolina, residents faced more than just physical devastation, too—they grappled with the emotional aftermath. In this episode of Storm Stories, Brandon Romstadt of WNC Health Network shares how public health communicators crafted trauma-informed messaging to support storm survivors, while environmental epidemiologist Jen Runkle starts to talk about the intersection of disaster, sadness and fear that emerged after Hurricane Florence.

Trauma-Informed Communication: 10 Essential Tips for Nonprofits

Educate Your Team: Ensure all staff understand trauma and its effects.

Empathic Language: Use language that validates feelings and experiences.

Clarity is Key: Provide clear, consistent, and accessible information.

Engage Community Voices: Involve survivors in shaping messaging.

Prioritize Safety: Create messaging that avoids triggering traumatic memories.

Focus on Strengths: Emphasize resilience and available support.

Tailor Communication: Adapt messages for diverse audiences and needs.

Use Multiple Channels: Distribute information via trusted platforms.

Foster Trust: Maintain transparency about recovery efforts.

Review and Adapt: Regularly assess and update communication strategies.

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After Hurricane Helene, the damage wasn’t just physical—it left an invisible scar on the mental health of survivors. Environmental epidemiologist Dr. Jen Runkle joins Storm Stories to explore how disasters like Helene disrupt communities long after the floodwaters recede. She shares insights from her research on the psychological aftermath of hurricanes, particularly among young people and pregnant women.

10 Essential Tips for Children Coping with Storm Trauma

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In this episode of Storm Stories, we explore the complexities of disaster giving, from the impact of misinformation to the critical need for long-term recovery efforts. Through expert insights Stephanie Watkins-Cruz  and of the North Carolina Housing Coalition and Tanya Gulliver-Garcia the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and we uncover the systemic challenges of funding rural and invisible disasters, the power of media-driven donations, and the importance of rethinking how we respond to extreme weather events like Hurricane Helene.  To create this story we read and listened to quite a bit of the work done by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.  Below is a summary of our notes.

10 Lessons Inspired by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy

Disaster recovery demands more than immediate relief. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) has shown how intentional funding and planning can strengthen communities. Here are ten takeaways inspired by their work:

By applying these principles, inspired by the CDP, we can create a more compassionate and effective approach to disaster philanthropy—one that not only responds but rebuilds stronger communities. https://disasterphilanthropy.org/

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