Helene Recovery and Rebuild

In the wake of the unprecedented devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, ERC Broadband is issuing an urgent plea for immediate financial support to continue the critical work of restoring and maintaining essential broadband infrastructure across Western North Carolina (WNC). As a regional fiber optic network provider, headquartered in Asheville, we serve the vital connectivity needs of local governments, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and other regional carriers. Without immediate financial assistance, our ability to continue these operations and needed restoration is at severe risk. 

Over the past week, despite every member of our 21-person staff being personally impacted by this disaster—many losing homes, infrastructure, and basic necessities—ERC has worked around the clock, 24 hours a day, to ensure that the communities we serve remain connected. Our small team has performed these monumental efforts while balancing the needs of their families and communities, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to the region we call home. 

While larger corporations have delayed operations for safety assessments, ERC jumped into action immediately because this is our community. We are the boots on the ground—invested in Western North Carolina for decades—and we will not relent until the region is fully restored. 

Our Immediate Need

At this time, we are in critical need of $3 million for temporary infrastructure repairs to stabilize services and ensure essential connectivity. Over the next 12 to 18 months, we will require an additional $10 million for permanent reconstruction of our network infrastructure. We are actively applying for FEMA and other recovery funding, but we cannot wait—our staff and vendors must be paid, and essential infrastructure needs immediate protection to prevent further degradation. 

ERC’s Role in Disaster Recovery

ERC’s network powers critical emergency services, healthcare institutions, government operations, and even local businesses. Over the past seven days, ERC has: 

  • Managed core network temperatures in extreme conditions, with heroic efforts from our staff and local agencies preventing catastrophic core failure. 
  • Restored water to essential cooling systems with the help of the Asheville Fire Department, stabilizing network operations that support the entire region. 
  • Reestablished one of our six trunk internet connections and are working to restore the remaining five, ensuring critical connectivity to the outside world. 
  • Provided emergency connectivity for federal agencies within the Veach-Baley Federal Building and created new connections for regional service providers such as MCNC and Skyrunner, enabling them to resume operations. 
  • Upgraded Mission Hospital’s capacity to 10 Gbps to handle the increased load under emergency conditions. 
  • Restored connectivity for Hendersonville City, Haywood County, Buncombe County, and many other regional governments and emergency services, ensuring public safety and health services are uninterrupted

Accomplishments in the First Seven Days

Despite monumental challenges, ERC has: 

  • Maintained connectivity for emergency public Wi-Fi with key partners such as the Asheville Chamber, Asheville Fire Station, regional libraries, Moxy Hotel, and many others. 
  • Supported healthcare providers including Mission Hospital, Pardee Hospital, and Advent Hospitals with essential connectivity for life-saving services. 
  • Restored or upgraded service for local municipalities including the City of Asheville, Buncombe County, Transylvania County, and Black Mountain, ensuring their emergency services and recovery efforts can proceed. 
  • Partnered with regional ISPs and providers, including MCNC and Skyrunner, to increase capacity and stabilize critical services for the region. 
  • Restored services at the Asheville Regional Airport. 
  • Worked with businesses such as Aeroflow Healthcare, JABIL, and Linamar to maintain their operations and ensure they can continue serving the community. 

This is just a fraction of what we have accomplished with limited resources and under immense pressure. With proper funding, we can expand these efforts, prevent further network failures, and work towards permanent infrastructure recovery. Please donate to restore communications in WNC.

Why We Need You

ERC Broadband is integral to the ongoing recovery efforts in WNC. We are not a large national provider with endless resources, but we are the provider that has been here for the people of Western North Carolina before, during, and after this disaster. Our region depends on us to restore critical infrastructure, and we are calling on you—our state, federal, and corporate partners—to support us in this time of dire need. 

The communities we serve, including essential emergency services, healthcare providers, and local governments, rely on our network to stay connected during this critical time. With immediate funding, we can ensure that WNC remains resilient in the face of disaster. 

Please join us in supporting the recovery of Western North Carolina. We need your immediate assistance to continue this vital work. 

Sincerely, 

ERC Broadband 

Asheville, North Carolina 

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