Jack Igelman

2 weeks ago | biltmorebeacon.com | Jack Igelman

Editor’s note: The Restraining Rivers investigative series is supported in part by the Pulitzer Center, whose mission is to champion the power of stories to make complex issues relevant and inspire action; Sugar Hollow Solar, a B-Corp certified, locally owned full-service renewable energy company; and by readers like you. Tropical Storm Helene underscored the dangers of aging dams and flood-control infrastructure in Western North Carolina.

3 weeks ago | mountainx.com | Jack Igelman

by Jack Igelman, Carolina Public PressJune 4, 2025Months after Tropical Storm Helene ravaged Western North Carolina, rural communities, unincorporated towns and small municipalities are still trying to recover and rebuild. They face another monumental challenge: ensuring their homes, businesses, and public spaces are more resilient to future extreme rainfall events, intensified by climate change.

3 weeks ago | mountainx.com | Jack Igelman

by Jack Igelman, Carolina Public PressJune 3, 2025As climate-related disasters grow more frequent and costly, communities and governments face tough questions about how to mitigate future floods. Federal, state, and local decision makers often clash because they’re driven by different incentives, budget constraints and timelines, making coordination among governments challenging. State Sen.

3 weeks ago | carolinapublicpress.org | Jack Igelman

As climate-related disasters grow more frequent and costly, communities and governments face tough questions about how to mitigate future floods. Federal, state, and local decision makers often clash because they’re driven by different incentives, budget constraints and timelines, making coordination among governments challenging.  State Sen. Julie Mayfield, D-Buncombe, is making resilience from floods a priority, with dam removal and lake dredging a part of the conversation.

3 weeks ago | wfae.org | Jack Igelman

Tropical Storm Helene underscored the dangers of aging dams and flood-control infrastructure in Western North Carolina. Leading up to the storm, some signs already indicated that something more needed to be done should a natural disaster strike. A substantial number of aging dams are in poor condition throughout the state with a risk of failure, posing a significant hazard to property or life if they fail. The cost of repairing them is often prohibitive.