Support Awareness for Helene Victims NRV | Homecoming 2026

Build Back with Bonnie promotes storm recovery and preparedness in the New River Valley and 

Appalachia in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. In 2024, my grandfather lost his house to

Hurricane Helene. Because of Florida law, he had flood insurance that allowed him to rebuild at

a lower cost. However, I quickly learned that many in the NRV and other parts of Appalachia

that were deeply affected by the hurricane were not in flood zones, and therefore uninsured. In

Virginia alone, the storm caused an estimated 630 million dollars in agricultural damages. In the

aftermath of the storm, many were left dealing with grief, trauma, and uncertainty. I began

volunteering in nonprofit lumber removal and home reconstruction in Western North Carolina,

where my eyes were opened to the serious lack of long-term attention that natural disaster

victims receive. My platform aims to draw attention to the affected Appalachians who deserve

our support and compassion during times of storm recovery, as well as educate about available

recovery resources. In addition, I aim to promote public education about storm preparedness to

help protect and prepare others for future unexpected scenarios and reduce anxiety about the

unknown.

The Student Emergency Fund is the official partner of Build Back with Bonnie, as it serves to

support students financially as they experience emergencies such as natural disasters that

could derail their education. After Hurricane Helene, Blacksburg and much of the NRV did not

have access to clean water for over a week, and many roads and homes were damaged. Many

students at Virginia Tech and other Appalachian locations had issues obtaining water, food,

other resources, and safe housing and transportation, which the Student Emergency Fund aims

to alleviate. By supporting the fund through my campaign fundraising, I aim to support students

facing disaster-related hurdles to education.