3 min read

A tribute to rural strength and recovery

A tribute to rural strength and recovery
Image by Rory Doyle

Hi Neighbor, 

My name is Madeline, and I lead the communications program here at Resource Rural. One of my greatest joys in this work is reading and learning about the incredible stories and hard work of my neighbors in small towns like mine across the country. 

That joy — in part — is why it’s taken me so long to write this next send. I’ve been devastated to watch the damage that’s wrecked havoc across the Southeast these past weeks, and heartbroken to watch communities lose the nooks and brooks where their families have made memories for generations. My own folks, displaced by Helene in North Carolina, have consumed much of my waking hours. 

Amidst turbulence, I’ve been bolstered by the stories of resilience pouring from rural places across the region. Backhoes and mules, hands over hands, and small town know-how aren’t just bringing people together, they’re saving lives. 

To honor the grit, determination, and resilience of the rural places we love, here are a few stories from the Southeast of hard work, revival, and contribution. 

I hope that you and your loved ones have everything you need. 

Madeline 

A new bridge in Tyrell County, NC will be a lifeline for the local economy 

This piece was made by the Durham-based videography team at Remedy

In 1963, Tommy Everett walked across the Alligator River Bridge during its dedication as a Cub Scout. Now, over six decades later, that same bridge in Tyrrell County, North Carolina, is receiving a much-needed upgrade thanks to a $111 million federal grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

“The beautiful thing of this bridge project is everybody came together and said,” Everett shared with us. ‘“We have a problem and let’s see how we fix it.’” The new bridge, which will be taller and safer, will improve access to schools, work, and healthcare for Tyrrell County residents and boost internet and telecommunications services. 

Evertt shared with us that federal projects in Tyrell County are supporting other vital improvements such as water and sewage systems, as a part of broader push to improve rural infrastructure. You can read more about the projects here.

Biloxi recovers from hurricane impacts with water management infrastructure

Residents of Biloxi, Mississippi – a coastal city hard-hit by Hurricane Katrina — are used  to the challenges created by recurring floods. But one local organization, the Steps Coalition, is using federal funding and the help of the Anthropocene Alliance to utilize native landscaping and an underground bioswale to capture rainwater and allow it to release into the soil over time. That measured release mitigates the likelihood of flooding in an area where the water table is exceptionally high.

And that singular, thoughtful project has led to two more efforts that could have an even greater impact on the Biloxi community. The two new projects will utilize $227,000 in funding from additional National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grants made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act.

“It would have an immediate benefit for the community,” Gordon Jackson of the Steps Coalition shared of the bayou restoration projects. “We’re trying to create healthy spaces for the community that also protect at the same time.” 

Gordon Jackson as captured by Rory Doyle
A waterway in Biloxi, Mississippi, as captured by Rory Doyle

A few more Southeastern stories to share:

Rural storytellers in the news:

Madeline McGill