George Real Estate Group Radio Broadcast

Finding Light After the Storm

• George Real Estate Group

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When disaster strikes, true heroes emerge from within the community. Michelle Edwards, this week's Hometown Hero, returned to her native Polk County just in time to establish the Polk Referral Center when Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina.

What began as a vision to help rural residents access resources transformed overnight into a critical lifeline for over 500 households affected by the storm. Through coordinated volunteer efforts, the center has helped clear driveways, remove fallen trees, secure temporary shelter, and provide countless other forms of assistance to community members in need. Now, months after the initial disaster, Edwards and her team continue supporting approximately 180 households still dealing with Helene's aftermath.

The power of Edwards' approach lies in its simplicity and humanity. Operating from storage units to keep costs minimal, the center functions as a connector between those needing help and available resources. "We empower our local nonprofits," Edwards explains, ensuring services aren't duplicated while following up to fill gaps that traditional assistance can't address. Regular "front porch assessments" provide both practical help and emotional support, reminding struggling residents they haven't been forgotten even as media attention has moved on.

Perhaps most remarkable is that this critical community resource runs entirely on volunteer power. Edwards herself draws no salary despite her full-time commitment to the center. When asked what motivates her lifelong dedication to service, her answer is profoundly simple: "It's the best antidepressant I have ever experienced." In a world often divided, her story reminds us of our shared humanity and the healing power of showing up for one another.

Want to support the Polk Referral Center? Visit polkreferralcenter.org or find them on Facebook. Even small acts like bringing ice cream and spending an hour with an isolated community member can make a tremendous difference in someone's recovery journey.

Speaker 1:

The George Real Estate Group radio broadcast is celebrating 10 years on WHKP. The George Real Estate Group is celebrating 10 years on the radio live every Thursday morning at 10.05 on WHKP 107.7 FM and AM 1450, and streaming online at WHKPcom. And streaming online at whkpcom Each Friday morning at 845,. The George Real Estate Group presents the Hometown Hero Award to someone in our community who goes above and beyond to make our hometown a better place to live. Here's this week's Hometown Hero Show. It's 845 and time now for our George Real Estate Group Hometown Hero Salute. We do this every Friday morning and always have a good time doing it with Noah George, who brings you the George Real Estate Group Hometown Hero Show every week. How are you doing, mr Noah?

Speaker 2:

So much to be thankful for. And happy Friday. It's always the highlight of the week.

Speaker 1:

Being here sponsoring the Hometown Heroes series, you come to us every Friday morning and we always are able to find some folks in our community who are taking the extra step, going the extra mile to help make our hometown what it is, and our hometown's a popular place to move to, isn't it?

Speaker 2:

It really is. And, again, the incredible people that live here that are giving and showing up every day. And I think people, when they move here, they want to be part of it, and you and I hear stories every single Friday about people making amazing differences in this community.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, we really do, and I count that a privilege. I really do. Hey, how's the market in real estate here?

Speaker 2:

The market's absolutely still moving Year. To date, we've had more homes sell this year than same time period last year. Prices are holding. They're down about 1.5% compared to the previous time frame. The thing that's fascinating, though, is it's slowing up a little bit the days on market. It averages around 60 days on the market before homes going under contract, so things are taking a little bit longer, which is okay. Buyers have a little bit more time to decide. But, of course, if the home's priced right, if it's staged right, if it's marketed, we still see homes moving quickly, sometimes still seeing the multiple offers, but the market is still strong. The sky is not falling. Be careful to listen to the news. The sky is not falling. We're averaging about 126 single-family homes a month. The average home price is $540 in Henderson County. It's still great for buyers and sellers in this market.

Speaker 1:

I think one point you made in talking there is if it's priced right.

Speaker 2:

It still has to be priced right, and when it's priced right and still has to be priced right, and when it's priced right and you're still going to get top dollar when it's priced right and the condition, you know, all those things come together and that's where our job is to provide clarity and information for our clients to make the decision where they want to price the home based on the market, and then we're partnering and then, with all of the proven and predictable steps, we have had the privilege of helping over 1,600 families sell their homes throughout the years and this is my 20th year with my broker's license, but we love serving the community through real estate.

Speaker 1:

All right. Michelle Edwards, with the Polk Referral Center, is in the studio with us. Good morning, michelle. Thank you for having us.

Speaker 3:

How are you today? I'm wonderful, it's a beautiful Friday and a little break from the rain.

Speaker 1:

Amen, amen. Sunshine makes everybody smile a little bit, doesn't it? Well, tell us about, if you can, the Polk Referral Center. We want to make sure that we include our southern Polk friends. You guys were hit with Helene damage, basically, just like everybody else was.

Speaker 3:

We were, so we started out officially October 7th. We helped our neighbors and friends before that and then realized the needs that were in our hometown. At one point, we had over 500 households that needed immediate assistance and, with the help of our neighbors, we were able to coordinate through online efforts, with having driveways cleaned up and repaired, trees moved off of houses and buildings, people with safe shelters all strangers working together to be able to make these efforts happen. As time has moved on, we're down to about 180 on our list.

Speaker 2:

Oh good, yes, that's significant, it is.

Speaker 3:

We just had. Our long-term recovery group is established in Polk County and they will be getting to action here soon. We're working closely with them. We work with our emergency management teams and coordinate for efforts with local nonprofits that can bring in greater relief services. So we are primarily referrals. We empower our local nonprofits so that we can send people to them and then we follow up to fill in the gaps that they're not able to handle by a network of churches, do-gooders and the other nonprofits. So every day we make things happen. This week we've put out two different hot tents for community members. We still have people living underneath canopies and carports. We have a lot of people dealing with mold and erosion control issues, but together we're getting two solutions instead of just having potential problems.

Speaker 1:

The damages that you guys. Well, first of all, as recent as yesterday, it had an earthquake centered in Mill Spring and it was quite an earthquake.7 I think I know it was felt all around the western north carolina area we got quite a few calls of concern.

Speaker 3:

I was actually driving from one client's house to the other so I did not notice it personally. Um, as soon as I got to a community partner over at sunnyview clubhouse, uh, they were like did you feel the earthquake? So it was only four miles from my house, was the center of it. It's amazing, and the area that it hit has not only been hit by Helene, where 37 out of 39 homes were significantly damaged, but they also dealt with the fires that happened through Polk County. We had I think it was 5,700 acres earlier this spring of fires in that community and now an earthquake. So there are challenges every day for these community members as they continue to do their rebuilds and rehabilitations.

Speaker 2:

Incredible. Your website's polkreferralcenterorg. Yes, and how long have you been involved in the center?

Speaker 3:

So I am the founder, you created it, I did. Let's talk about that story. How long have you been involved in the center? So I am the founder. You created it, I did. Let's talk about that story.

Speaker 2:

And how did this come to fruition and where did your vision for this?

Speaker 3:

So, before the start of the program storm, we wanted to open up a referral center to help people in rural areas get to resources that they may need. We have a very humble community that do not like to reach out. So being able to break down those barriers and make things accessible where you could have one-on-one conversation instead of feeling like you have to go into a center to find direction and if you've been told no once, twice, you're not going to be told no a third time. You're going to not get the services you need. So we wanted to do this as a harm reduction service for our community. Then the storm hit. We had already talked with our Health and Human Services Department and a couple of the nonprofits about what our intentions were before the storm. Once the storm hit, we got activated.

Speaker 2:

I mean talk about the timing of this. All this was all in the works prior to Helene.

Speaker 3:

Yes.

Speaker 2:

I'm curious, had you experienced this somewhere else? And then you're like, hey, I believe our community needs this here.

Speaker 3:

So I was raised in Polk County and I left in 2004. And I've worked for a nonprofit since I was seven. I did water conservation, helped with the recycling programs, things of that nature, and then I moved to the West Coast. I lived there for 20 years. I worked with a variety of nonprofits. As a volunteer Went back to school to be able to get certificates in nonprofit management and grant writing with the intention of coming home to do this particular program.

Speaker 2:

Incredible.

Speaker 1:

About the same time the storm hit.

Speaker 3:

A year before the storm is when I got back.

Speaker 1:

That's amazing. Yes, the universe knew what it was doing.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yeah, so, uh, we did not intend to move so quickly, but we did, and we were as prepared as we could be when it came to knowing the resources and utilizing their services and empowering them to be able to be there for our neighbors has been the biggest gift we we as a community have so many people working together hand in hand. We call each other all day long, send each other emails all day long about the same clients to try to find the solution.

Speaker 1:

Fantastic.

Speaker 3:

Well, you can use more people to help right Most definitely, and it's been difficult to find funding for new nonprofits after Helene. We are working very hard to do that. We do community fundraisers twice a month, community distribution days. We gave out over 100 backpacks for the back to school drives, but every day we're doing deliveries to our community. Volunteer needs that we have are just having people come and check in with our more vulnerable populations, bringing them a pint of ice cream and giving them an hour of your time can really make a difference in someone's life. Letting them know that they're showing up.

Speaker 2:

Yes, human to human. Yes, incredible what. So you are raising support and funds, but also you're pointing the clients in the directions of these other nonprofits. So there's not this overlapping of resources.

Speaker 3:

Right. We're trying really hard to not duplicate services by utilizing the services together and where there are areas that need to have additional needs met, then we can work collectively to find those avenues. Every case is unique and each person is going to have different levels of need. After insurance, fema and everything else, if they just need a reimbursement so that their family can be stabilized, we have someone to call. They need their driveway fixed, we have someone that we can call. There's still things that we're having a hard time with, like handyman projects, little one-offs and foundation services. They're just very expensive, but together we're making things happen.

Speaker 2:

What's your biggest challenge right now?

Speaker 3:

Getting people temporary shelter who do not want to leave their properties, while we are figuring out the long-term solutions, but with the storms brewing out on the ocean right now, trying to figure out where we can send those people to for if a storm does come in, because our unhoused and underhoused population is our most vulnerable and we need to have safe avenues for them and for those living in flood zones.

Speaker 2:

Incredible.

Speaker 1:

What areas of Polk County were hit the hardest with the lean?

Speaker 3:

So Polk County backs up to Lake Lure so we had I only live four miles from Lake Lure myself, so we had quite a few people have a lot of wind damage there. Lots of trees down the Green River Cove had 37 out of 39 homes damaged and then 176 all the way up to Saluda had major issues. It's still closed down and will be for years, but we have households on both sides that still need great attention.

Speaker 3:

We have bridges out that house, 10 different households so trying to get those accessibility measures back up while looking ahead at preventative measures and erosion controls and safeties in place for these people so that they're not having to do this time and time again.

Speaker 1:

You said, you have like 180 people still on that Households, households.

Speaker 3:

Yes, sir.

Speaker 1:

Oh, that's even more people, but yes, households that need help. Yes, sir.

Speaker 2:

What I think a lot of people don't realize is and again, there's so much that's quote unquote back to normal in so many parts of our communities, but there's so many people still in a marathon of recovery, most definitely.

Speaker 3:

And being able to show up for them and do the front porch assessments and give them that time and energy and direction really is. Our goal Is to let them know hey, this is hard, it is not in your head, newspapers are not keeping up and we are here.

Speaker 2:

You're not alone.

Speaker 3:

You are not alone and being able to hold hands, share laughter in tears through rain, earthquakes or whatever it may be in that moment. We're there for you to the best of our ability. The list is long and we try to check in with everybody at least twice a month to see how they're doing along the way.

Speaker 2:

Incredible.

Speaker 1:

Do you have a brick-and-mortar office, Michelle?

Speaker 3:

We work out of storage units in Columbus and that way we're easily accessible to people. We are looking for a warehouse space, but it is quite expensive and so far the funds raised have gone directly back into the community. We are still 100% volunteer. So as long as we're able to keep that storage space and we have a grant for that through October thanks to United Way in Rutherford, so if we're able to maintain that, then we're going to keep doing that direction so that every penny goes back into the community as needed.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and you're not making a six-figure income.

Speaker 3:

I'm making no income. But I am working on grants to get there and to the next level.

Speaker 1:

I love it. I love it. Well, how do people get in touch with you, Michelle? So?

Speaker 3:

we're very active on our Facebook page. We put resources daily. So that is Polk Referral Center. Appalachian Strongcomb, heller High Water. We started off as Appalachian Strongcomb, heller High Water, but there were so many different Heller High Waters out there that we decided that we were going to bring it back into the original mission of Polk Referral Center. You can also find us online at polkreferralcenterorg.

Speaker 2:

I mean full circle, born and raised in Polk County and just passionate about helping and giving back. I mean, was there somebody in your life that made a difference, that I mean planted that seed for you to do what you do?

Speaker 3:

Well, my mother and my grandmother always encouraged my wildness when it came to wanting to give back, and I was definitely the kid that cried at every single commercial that there was that would ask you for funds. So I was taught to give back. My mom runs a nonprofit that helps sexually abused children, and it's motivated me my entire life to want to give back, and I feel like it is part of our civic duty. If you can't be there for others, when you have the ability to please do. It changes your life as well, and for me, it's the best antidepressant I have ever experienced.

Speaker 1:

It's powerful, your life as well, and for me, it's the best antidepressant I have ever experienced. Powerful. Well, gosh, we are so grateful for you, uh, coming up to visit with us today. Michelle, we have a certificate for you that this, this we appreciate what you do and there's some goodies from local restaurants here, including hot dog world, our, our famous hot world. But we want to thank you so much for coming out to visit with us today. Michelle Edwards, the executive director of the Polk Referral Center, our George Real Estate Group hometown hero. Maybe someone from the Apple Festival next week, noah.

Speaker 2:

We're working on it. That's two weeks from today. It's around the corner. Could you believe that it's?

Speaker 1:

exciting, it really is. Well, our hometown hero series is brought to you by the george real estate group, hometown and the real estate group right here in flat rock.

Speaker 2:

join us each friday morning for the hometown hero series maybe the house feels a little too big these days, the stairs a little steeper, the pace of life a little too fast. But what if your next move wasn't about letting go. It was about making space for peace, for freedom, for what matters most? At the George Real Estate Group, we understand that real estate isn't just about the house. It's about transitions, timing and trust. We've helped thousands of families in Western North Carolina make smart, thoughtful moves Closer to nature, closer to family, closer to home. So when you're ready to right size, simplify or start fresh, we'll be here. The George Real Estate Group Local, trusted, proven. Call us today 828-393-0134. Find us online at realestatebygregcom, because your next chapter deserves to feel just right.

Speaker 1:

The George Real Estate Group is located in Flat Rock, north Carolina, near Hendersonville in Henderson County. You can find them online at realestatebygregcom. The George Real Estate Group can be reached at 828-393-0134 or stop by their office at 2720 Greenville Highway, flat Rock, north Carolina. Tune in live each week on Thursdays at 10.05 am on WHKP 107.7 FM and 14.50 am, or stream online at WHKPcom or download these podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. The George Real Estate Group brings you the WHKP Hometown Hero Series every Friday morning at 8.45.