KERR COUNTY, TEXAS — August 15, 2025 — In the wake of the devastating July floods in Kerr County, a delegation of local leaders from the Western North Carolina Recovery and Resilience Partnership (WNC Partnership) this week are traveling to Texas to offer support, solidarity, and insights on disaster recovery and long-term flood resilience.
The delegation includes Lake Lure Mayor Susan Pritchett, Marshall Mayor Aaron Haynie, Avery County Commission Vice Chairman Dennis Aldridge, and Asheville City Councilmember Maggie Ullman representing the WNC Partnership, a coalition of local officials formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene to strengthen flood preparedness across the region.
Supported by the American Flood Coalition, the local leaders are visiting Kerr County to learn from the experiences faced by Kerr County leaders and share the challenges and solutions their communities have faced as they rebuild from recent flood disasters.
During their visit, the WNC mayors will meet with City of Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring and Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly to discuss leveraging federal and state resources, community engagement, and regional collaboration. This meeting was made possible through the leadership of Portland, Texas Mayor Cathy Skurow, an active AFC member and valued Member Advisory Board voice. Alongside Portland Mayor Pro Tem John Green, she has been instrumental in advancing flood resilience initiatives across Texas.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to visit Kerrville with the American Flood Coalition to share our recent experiences with Hurricane Helene disaster recovery and our focus on building greater resiliency in our flood planning,” said Lake Lure Mayor Pritchett. “We also hope to learn more about the challenges faced by Kerr County and the possibility of a collaboration between our regions. Our hearts go out to everyone who is enduring this tragedy. I am a Texan and lived there for most of my life before moving to North Carolina. Many of my most cherished family memories are from Kerrville.”
The WNC Partnership was formed after Hurricane Helene to unite local elected officials from the region’s most flood-impacted communities. With support from the American Flood Coalition, the group works across the region to improve preparedness, share resources, and amplify local needs to state and federal partners.
“Our communities understand the weight of leading through a flood disaster,” said Marshall Mayor Haynie. “We didn’t have all the answers after Helene, but we leaned on each other and on partners like the American Flood Coalition to find a path forward. We want to share what worked and what we’re still learning, because no community should have to face this alone.”
“We’ve seen how devastating these events can be but also how powerful local leadership is in driving recovery,” said Avery County Commission Vice Chair Aldridge. “By coming together, we believe we can build a stronger, safer future not just for our own towns, but for others facing similar threats across the country.”
“From Asheville to Kerr County, disasters remind us we’re stronger together,” said Asheville CIty Councilmember Ullman. “By sharing what we’ve learned, we can turn tragedy into lasting preparedness so every community is stronger and better prepared for the next disaster.
About the American Flood Coalition
The American Flood Coalition is a nonpartisan group that brings together cities, elected officials, military leaders, businesses, and civic groups to drive adaptation to higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding. The Coalition advances solutions that support flood-affected communities and protect our nation’s residents, economy, and military installations. AFC has over 480 members across 22 states, as well as 54 Federal Champions. For more on the organization’s work or how to become a member, visit floodcoalition.org.
