It takes years for local governments, businesses, and citizens to recover emotionally and financially. The long-term impact of disasters, through lost jobs and a depressed economy, results from the need to redirect vital community resources from investments in the future to replace the losses of the present. In many of the communities that have experienced disasters, homes, families, and businesses could have been better protected through advanced preparation. There are actions that citizens, government and businesses can take to lessen the impact of natural disasters. Project Impact promotes this forward-thinking philosophy so it will become a natural part of how we run our communities.
Disasters occur here in Buncombe County Disasters occur here in Buncombe County .
The most prominent hazards that threaten our community are flooding, earthquakes, severe winter storms, drought, hazardous materials, and wildfires. In the last 20 years, there have been six disaster declarations for Buncombe County, mainly for flooding. In addition to these large-scale disasters, there have been countless localized flooding events, which have been equally serious for community members. The Swannanoa River, the Ivy River, areas in Hominy, Candler, and Biltmore Village are known for repetitive flooding. Businesses At the heart of Project Impact is the formation of active partnerships among businesses, civic leaders and individual citizens.