Trending...
- Last Call - Submit Your Proposal for the 2025 OpenSSL Conference in Prague
- Robert Michael & Co. Launches New Real Estate Website to Serve Central Florida Homebuyers and Sellers
- Anern Shines at SOLAR AFRICA Kenya with Solar Lithium Battery Storage Technology
Through a Mutual Mission Developed by Community-Based Volunteer Leaders and Entrepreneurs Who Organized to Provide Critical Supplies to Those in Need During the Initial Response to the Hurricane Helene Crisis
WASHINGTON - PrAtlas -- Western Carolina Emergency Network (WCEN https://westerncarolinaemergencynetwork.org/) entrepreneurs and volunteer leaders accepted a 2025 ReadyCommunities Partnership/CCROA National Service Award on June 2, 2025 in the Hendersonville, NC district congressional office of Hon. Chuck Edwards (NC-11).
In response to the destruction and deaths caused by Cat 4 Hurricane Helene which struck NC on September 27, 2024, a broad-based volunteer team quickly formed as WCEN to manage donations and distribute critical supplies such as food, water and fuel in the disaster zone. During the early response, WCEN founder Chris Larsen said, "When someone gets knocked down and you're standing - it's your job to somehow help." Congressman Chuck Edwards said the damage was unprecedented across Western North Carolina and prepared a special report for the attention of President Donald J. Trump (2025 April) detailing the region's needs for recovery https://edwards.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/edwards.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/rep-edwards-report-to-the-president-hurricane-helene-recovery.pdf
More on PrAtlas
WCEN quickly built its volunteer network with contacts from local churches, disaster nonprofit organizations, truck drivers, a helicopter team, fuel haulers, and medical care, logistics, heavy equipment, and agricultural experts eventually moving all communication and coordination to the Signal app. Local churches were vital to identifying those most in need to support both community and organizational needs.
Two weeks into the recovery, fuel was critically needed for deliveries and rebuilding. In response, the initial WCEN fuel drivers included Austin Livengod, Aaron Andrews, Brian Penrod, Chase Parsons, Chris Barker, Christy Sowers, Dan Jones, Jacob Kost, Jon Higdon, Nick Dahlenburg, Noel Billings, TJ Frost, Walt Waggoner, and West Caudle who immediately agreed to make the deliveries. WCEN fuel volunteer coordinator Rhonda Jean said, "If it wasn't' for these drivers we wouldn't have achieved such success."
Co-sponsored by the non-partisan Corporate Crisis Response Officers Association (https://www.ccroa.org & the Community Institute for Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (CIPRR), the 2025 ReadyCommunities Partnership National Service Award was co-presented by Dr. Rosalie J. Wyatt, MBA, National Director for the ReadyCommunities Partnership/CCROA and Connor Brown, a representative for Chuck Edwards (NC-11). CCROA board director Cynthia H. Thornton (https://www.kw.com/) co-sponsored the reception and advisory board member Jouni Keravuori (US Army, ret., https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-146140/) co-hosted the event.
More on PrAtlas
Dr. Rosalie J. Wyatt remarked, "WCEN is remarkable in that it formed so quickly as a mutual mission with local and volunteer community leaders to restore and fortify their community in crisis." WCEN organization volunteer founders included Kristen Engard (Marketing), Rhonda Jean (Fuel Coordinator), Chris Larsen (Founder), Becca Ross (Supply Chain), and trustees Crystal Suazo and Mindy Toole.
Rachel Lepine also represented Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) in the Hendersonville, NC office by hosting approximately twenty award ceremony attendees including volunteer WCEN organization founders and family members, and fuel delivery drivers.
Since 2007, RCP/CCROA National Service and Sacrifice Awards https://www.ccroa.org/showarticle_awards.php have acknowledged volunteers, responders, and organizations for their extraordinary service and contributions to the resiliency of America's strategic communities in the first 72 hours of a large-scale or national crisis. Overall, the National Service and Sacrifice Awards help support community development through collaboration and foster a culture of resiliency for economic and national security. ReadyCommunities Partnership is a non-partisan initiative and project of CCROA and CIPRR. For additional information or to donate, please visit http://www.ccroa.org or email drrjwyatt@ccroa.org/.
Contact
ReadyCommunities Partnership/CCROA
Rosalie J. Wyatt, PhD, MBA
www.readycommunities.org
Mailing Address 1390 Chain Bridge Road, #490
McLean, VA. 22101
In response to the destruction and deaths caused by Cat 4 Hurricane Helene which struck NC on September 27, 2024, a broad-based volunteer team quickly formed as WCEN to manage donations and distribute critical supplies such as food, water and fuel in the disaster zone. During the early response, WCEN founder Chris Larsen said, "When someone gets knocked down and you're standing - it's your job to somehow help." Congressman Chuck Edwards said the damage was unprecedented across Western North Carolina and prepared a special report for the attention of President Donald J. Trump (2025 April) detailing the region's needs for recovery https://edwards.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/edwards.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/rep-edwards-report-to-the-president-hurricane-helene-recovery.pdf
More on PrAtlas
- CredHub and All County Property Management Franchise Corp. Partner to Empower Franchisees with Rental Payment Credit Reporting Solutions
- Pregis Shares 2024 Sustainability Report Highlighting Progress in Circular Product Innovation, Emissions Accountability, and Global Impact
- Initial Order Received from Vietnamese Maritime Security and Defense Services for Advanced Video Compression Solution: RMX; Stock Symbol: RMXI
- Keebos Launches New Universal Pearl Strap That Attaches to Any Phone Case
- Work 365 Launches Certified Provider Integration (CPI) Program to Help Distributors and CSPs Navigate Microsoft's Evolving Ecosystem
WCEN quickly built its volunteer network with contacts from local churches, disaster nonprofit organizations, truck drivers, a helicopter team, fuel haulers, and medical care, logistics, heavy equipment, and agricultural experts eventually moving all communication and coordination to the Signal app. Local churches were vital to identifying those most in need to support both community and organizational needs.
Two weeks into the recovery, fuel was critically needed for deliveries and rebuilding. In response, the initial WCEN fuel drivers included Austin Livengod, Aaron Andrews, Brian Penrod, Chase Parsons, Chris Barker, Christy Sowers, Dan Jones, Jacob Kost, Jon Higdon, Nick Dahlenburg, Noel Billings, TJ Frost, Walt Waggoner, and West Caudle who immediately agreed to make the deliveries. WCEN fuel volunteer coordinator Rhonda Jean said, "If it wasn't' for these drivers we wouldn't have achieved such success."
Co-sponsored by the non-partisan Corporate Crisis Response Officers Association (https://www.ccroa.org & the Community Institute for Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (CIPRR), the 2025 ReadyCommunities Partnership National Service Award was co-presented by Dr. Rosalie J. Wyatt, MBA, National Director for the ReadyCommunities Partnership/CCROA and Connor Brown, a representative for Chuck Edwards (NC-11). CCROA board director Cynthia H. Thornton (https://www.kw.com/) co-sponsored the reception and advisory board member Jouni Keravuori (US Army, ret., https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-146140/) co-hosted the event.
More on PrAtlas
- Five Aster Awards! Fusion Marketing Group Brings Home Big Wins in 2025!
- AI changes cryptocurrency market trading, TWL Miner launches new 1-day contract, giving away over $1 million
- A Global First: NaturismRE™ Launches the Global Urgency Index
- 14th CryptoSuper500 Report Releases: Bitcoin's Evolution into a Global Supercomputer
- Ross Toohey named Managing Director in Chesterfield, Missouri
Dr. Rosalie J. Wyatt remarked, "WCEN is remarkable in that it formed so quickly as a mutual mission with local and volunteer community leaders to restore and fortify their community in crisis." WCEN organization volunteer founders included Kristen Engard (Marketing), Rhonda Jean (Fuel Coordinator), Chris Larsen (Founder), Becca Ross (Supply Chain), and trustees Crystal Suazo and Mindy Toole.
Rachel Lepine also represented Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) in the Hendersonville, NC office by hosting approximately twenty award ceremony attendees including volunteer WCEN organization founders and family members, and fuel delivery drivers.
Since 2007, RCP/CCROA National Service and Sacrifice Awards https://www.ccroa.org/showarticle_awards.php have acknowledged volunteers, responders, and organizations for their extraordinary service and contributions to the resiliency of America's strategic communities in the first 72 hours of a large-scale or national crisis. Overall, the National Service and Sacrifice Awards help support community development through collaboration and foster a culture of resiliency for economic and national security. ReadyCommunities Partnership is a non-partisan initiative and project of CCROA and CIPRR. For additional information or to donate, please visit http://www.ccroa.org or email drrjwyatt@ccroa.org/.
Contact
ReadyCommunities Partnership/CCROA
Rosalie J. Wyatt, PhD, MBA
www.readycommunities.org
Mailing Address 1390 Chain Bridge Road, #490
McLean, VA. 22101
Source: CCROA
0 Comments
Latest on PrAtlas
- D8Averse Launches D8Acapture: Disruptive Mobile-First App Transforms Utility Pole Data Collection
- Experience Trembling Firsthand with the New AgeMan® Tremor Simulator
- Mauro Schnaidman named as Managing Director in Miami, Florida
- Continued Streak of Recognitions with Multiple Chambers and Partners Rankings
- Anern Shines at SOLAR AFRICA Kenya with Solar Lithium Battery Storage Technology
- Last Call - Submit Your Proposal for the 2025 OpenSSL Conference in Prague
- Robert Michael & Co. Launches New Real Estate Website to Serve Central Florida Homebuyers and Sellers
- IFFA 2025 Shines Bright as Mukesh Modi Welcomes Rio Rocket and Award Winner Lulu Lopez
- Kemeny, Ramp & Renaud Expands Legal Team with Attorney Baruch Kraut
- WOA Entertainment Group Unveils Independent No.1's: Breakthrough Artists II —A Celebration of Indie Excellence
- SheepFeast Launches "1 Million Discipled" Global Initiative to Empower Disciple-Making Around the World
- Sun City Resident Realtor Launches Exclusive Weekly Market Update for Bluffton's 55+ Communities!
- Delta Capital Group, Inc. Earns A+ Rating from the Better Business Bureau, Marking Another Milestone in Explosive Growth
- Vice President JD Vance & Industry Leaders at Bitcoin Conference After Partnership Signing to Optimize Cybersecurity Solutions: Bullet Blockchain, Inc
- Actress/Comedian Schelle Purcell Sizzles This Summer with Star-Making Turn in Tyler Perry's #1 Netflix Film, Straw, and Upcoming Comedy Special
- Braxus Entertainment Group Acquires All Star Events
- Global Expansion Fueled via Agreement to Take 90% Ownership of Nook Holdings UAE-Based Sports Incubator by Online Lottery & Sports Game Provider
- Remember Internet Pioneers NetCom Solutions & Network Solutions? Founder Emmit J. McHenry is Now Leading the Emerging Cybersecurity Firm Cycurion
- Celebrating Father's Day Weekend with Free Admission for the entire Family, AKC Dog Show, Best in Show and Puppy Event, Product Vendors
- LIB Continuous Innovation: Custom Rain Test Chambers & IP Labs