The total damage from Hurricane Helene to North Carolina ' be it physical, psychological or economic ' is difficult to quantify. But the numbers reported by the Office of State Budget and Management are harrowing: over 100 deaths, US$59.6 billion in damages and thousands of homes destroyed, as of Dec. 13, 2024. More than two months after the storm struck land on Sep. 27, small businesses are still struggling to recover from the flooding and lost inventory. Families remain displaced, their homes laid to waste. But natural disasters like hurricanes don't just endanger homes and infrastructure. There are items at risk that might not have price tags attached to them, but nonetheless matter a great deal to survivors: family photographs, heirlooms, journals, letters and documents. Bright is an objects conservator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, where she's responsible for the long-term preservation of the collection, including preventive care and repairs. Lione manages the...
learn more
