After Helene

Gathering support for Substack's nature writers

Image: NASA

To our readers and the larger Substack nature community,

In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destruction in the southeastern U.S., we’ve heard bits and pieces of news from fellow writers in the affected areas. Many are still without power and water; some are communicating though friends who’ve managed to get into town to share news. Our hearts go out to them, and to all those impacted.

We wanted to gather updates from those we’re aware of, and would gratefully welcome additions to this list. So, please contact us in the comments below, or by email or direct message, if you have information about others in our Substack nature community who could use our support.

In addition,

Andy @Revkin

has just updated his resource on directing your support to the area, here: How to Help the Communities Devastated by Hurricane Helene's Catastrophic Deluges

Jason Anthony

has produced a thought-provoking and compassionate piece on the floods: Reimagining Rain

Similarly,

Bill McKibben

’s piece this week gives important context to the events in Appalachia and beyond: Water

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[UPDATED 10/9/24) The folks below have published post-hurricane updates, some with suggestions on ways to support their work and their larger communities.

• Marsha Stopa writes at Essential Nature.

Day 11: Still Without Power, Survivor's Guilt

• Asia Suler writes at Mothering Depth. She shared by email that her herbal apothecary was destroyed in the flooding. She has asked that those looking to support her business’s recovery consider purchasing her book, Mirrors in the Earth, or take a look at her online classes to see if any resonate.

• Jeanne Malmgren writes at Rx Nature.

Helene update #3

• Janisse Ray writes at

  Trackless Wild with Janisse Ray
  and
  The Rhizosphere (for Writers)
  . She shared the following on Facebook: “We are safe following Hurricane Helene. Our home is untouched. No power. No cell service. No wifi. Power grid in shambles. Towns without power. Stores closed. We worked with our neighbors yesterday to clear our road of many large downed trees. So we can get out and emergency vehicles can get in. However, there is catastrophic damage in my general area with unreal destruction. My course sessions are cancelled for now. I'll be in touch. Big love to all.”

  • UPDATE 10/9: Janisse has posted the following on Substack:

    Why & How to Create a Writing Habit

• Katharine Beckett Winship writes at

  Matters of Kinship
  . She reached out to us 10/5: “FEMA is not viable yet. No power. But I’m starting to get cell and also helicopters bring water. I’m chief of staff on our mountain of 80 households, stranded. We have a road association Venmo.

  • My personal Venmo is: @kathwinship Last four of phone is 2784.

    Or just ask folks to do a paid subscription to Matters of Kinship. It will be months before I can open Black Mountain Pilates which is my job that pays the bills. If folks are more comfortable with the road association I can get that Venmo from our treasurer.”

• Jenks Farmer writes at Plant People.

Eye of The Storm

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We’ll update this list with any new information.

Thank you for any support you can offer; even the gift of your attention to their words is most welcome.

- Rebecca and Julie