Kat Carlton stepped into her role as Executive Director of United Way of Henderson County on October 1st—just days after Hurricane Helene devastated the region on September 27th. What followed was an extraordinary demonstration of leadership, community mobilization, and innovative problem-solving that helped Henderson County navigate its darkest hours.

"We didn't have power and internet at our office for a month," Kat explains in this powerful conversation. Yet despite these fundamental challenges, she and her team created manual systems that kept vital information flowing. They established physical routes to deliver updates to fire stations throughout the county, launched a landing page for nonprofits to coordinate resources, and—perhaps most remarkably—mobilized over 1,000 volunteers in just the first month after the disaster.

The conversation reveals the evolution from emergency response to long-term recovery through the Disaster Recovery Partnership, which now unites over 50 organizations working collaboratively to rebuild Henderson County. This partnership, fiscally sponsored by United Way, creates a streamlined experience for residents seeking help while preventing duplication of services—a crucial efficiency when resources are stretched thin.

What shines brightest throughout Kat's story is the spirit of her community. "Neighbors helping neighbors is really the core of our community," she reflects, noting how consistently people asked one simple question: "How can I help?" United Way's role in creating structured pathways for that generosity demonstrates why organized humanitarian response matters in crisis situations. As Kat emphasizes, the recovery work continues as a marathon, not a sprint, with their Days of Caring events in May already attracting hundreds of eager volunteers.

Want to support Henderson County's ongoing hurricane recovery? Visit liveunitedhc.org to donate, volunteer, or access resources if you've been affected by the disaster.