Storm Stories of North Carolina

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...

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 wh...

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 Child...

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-infor...

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 dona...

In this Storm Stories episode, pulled from the Shoresides' archive, we revisit the resilience of Pender County, North Carolina, in the wake of Hurricane Florence—a story that resonates now, as flooding again affects communities across North Carolina. Disaster counselor Jennifer Witkowski shares how long-term recovery goes beyond immediate cleanup, demanding sustained volunteer efforts and deep emotional resilience. Jennifer di...

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 int...

What can I do now to prepare for a future hurricane?

This month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released an updated forecast of above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic, predicting between 14 and 21 named storms.

In the face of a hurricane, and other weather events, preparation is your best defense. Here's how you can ensure the safety and well-being of yourself and your loved ones.

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 t...

In this episode, we explore how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting people who are still in recovery from Hurricane Florence. We also talk about how our experience with hurricanes in coastal North Carolina has prepared us to deal with the impacts of COVID-19 - and how it hasn't.

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

When Hurricane Florence struck, the city of Wilmington got plenty of attention from media outlets and government agencies. But few had the ability to do what community activist Cedric Harrison did, which was to witness all the ways poverty and disaster intersect. 

Storm Stories is a collection of stories from Hurricane Florence. This podcast  and radio series explores resilience and recovery in the coastal region through l...