Trending...
- At 25, She Became One of the Youngest AAPI Female Founders to Win One of the World's Most Prestigious Design Awards for a Lamp That Makes You Smile
- War, Peace, and Everything That Destroys You: The Novels of Leo Tolstoy, Reimagined
- Love Your Child's Smile: Building Healthy Oral Habits All Year Long
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 - Nyenta -- 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 Nyenta.com
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 Nyenta.com
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 Nyenta.com
- TammyCreates.com Launches Professional Website Design Services for Small Businesses in Long Island
- Yoga Retreats, Ecstatic Dance & Spiritual App launched
- L'AMI Bakery & Café Tempts Taste Buds with 20% Off Fan-Favorite Cakes
- Elder Abuse Case Against Healthy Traditions Owner Raises Questions As To The Dire Reality Of Abuse Against The Last Of The Baby Boomers
- Ellina Graypel, Vlada Von Shats, and Patrice Samara Making History
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 Nyenta.com
- New Novel Finding Harmony by Thomas Yaegers Offers a Bold Vision for Healing a Divided World
- Sound-Based Artist Hayes Greenfield Bridges Spatial Jazz, Early Childhood Education, and Memory Care
- Simpalm Staffing Services Launched its Refreshed Website for Remote Staffing Services
- Claude Riveloux Review 2026: How the $10B Fund Manager Dispels 'Scam' Rumors Through Education
- Pure Energy Electrical Services, LLC Announces Strong Start to 2026, Reinforcing Customer-First Electrical Service Across Northeast Florida
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 Nyenta.com
- Memelinked Social Media powered by cryptocurrency launching July 2026
- Seven-Year-Old Toronto Dancer Julianna Selivanov Wins Nine Medals at Quebec Championship and Reaches Finals at UK Dance Festival
- DOWE Expands National Apprenticeship Pathways Across High‑Growth Industries
- New Children's Book I Made It Home By Debra I. Thomas Celebrates Courage and Kindness
- TopDogTours Launches Independence Trail Tours in NYC, Boston and Philadelphia for America 250
- Safer, Dealer-Verified Digital Marketplace for Car Buyers Nationwide
- Progressive Dental & The Closing Institute Partner with Zest Dental Solutions to Elevate Full-Arch Growth and Patient Outcomes
- Rosann Santos, CPC, Explains Why Is Career Coaching So Important In Today's Market
- The OEM Myth Is Dead:Boeing Needed AS9100 And Went 24 Years Without It A Wake Up Call for Supplier
- Spring Surge in 55+ Communities: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know in 2026
- Jason Caras Launches The Caras Institute Following Successful Exit from IT Authorities
- Serina Damesworth Hired as Century Fasteners Corp. – Director of Quality
- National Expansion Ignited Across Amazon $AMZN, Chewy $CHWY & Walmart $WMT: NDT Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Stock Symbol: NDTP) $NDTP
- Distributed Social Media - Own Your Content
- Tarrytown Expocare Pharmacy Announces Strategic Leadership Appointments to Accelerate Growth and Innovation
- New Environmental Thriller "The Star Thrower" Reimagines a Classic Lesson in Individual Impact
- Summit Appoints Javier Cabeza as Data, AI, and Analytics Practice Lead
- Tutanota LLC Extends Tender Offer for up to 250,000 Shares of Common Stock of Applied Materials
- NYC Celebrity Psychic Documents 6-Fight UFC & Boxing Prediction Streak
- March Is Skiing's Smartest Buying Window