Interview with Josh Kelly
Dublin Core
Title
Interview with Josh Kelly
Description
Josh Kelly, Resilient Forests Program Director at the environmental nonprofit MountainTrue, was interviewed by Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections volunteer Kate Sepp on September 25, 2025. This interview took place over Zoom and was conducted as part of the Come Hell or High Water Oral History Project for Buncombe County Special Collections, Pack Memorial Library.
Kelly relates his experience during and after Helene. The storm struck when he was out of town, and he describes preparations he took before leaving town [00:04:31], his decision to stay in Minnesota at first [00:12:51], and his experience upon returning to his home in West Asheville five days later [00:14:21]. He describes changes to MountainTrue’s work in the short- and long-term aftermath as the nonprofit took on disaster relief and recovery roles in the community [00:19:52]. Kelly also reflects on Helene’s environmental impact in contrast to that of Hurricane Frances in 2004 [00:23:16] and expresses concerns about rebuilding in disaster-prone areas [00:26:24].
Narrator portraits by Bill Green Photography depict Josh outside in Malvern Hills Park, Asheville, on December 17, 2025.
Kelly relates his experience during and after Helene. The storm struck when he was out of town, and he describes preparations he took before leaving town [00:04:31], his decision to stay in Minnesota at first [00:12:51], and his experience upon returning to his home in West Asheville five days later [00:14:21]. He describes changes to MountainTrue’s work in the short- and long-term aftermath as the nonprofit took on disaster relief and recovery roles in the community [00:19:52]. Kelly also reflects on Helene’s environmental impact in contrast to that of Hurricane Frances in 2004 [00:23:16] and expresses concerns about rebuilding in disaster-prone areas [00:26:24].
Narrator portraits by Bill Green Photography depict Josh outside in Malvern Hills Park, Asheville, on December 17, 2025.
Date
Rights
Interview copyright Josh Kelly and Buncombe County Special Collections. Narrator portraits copyright Bill Green Photography.
Format
Language
English
Identifier
MS456.002G
Extent
1 digital video recording (00:27:56); 1 transcript (15 pages); 2 digital photographs
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Duration
00:27:56
Interviewer
Kate Sepp
Interviewee
Josh Kelly
Collection
Tags
Citation
Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections, “Interview with Josh Kelly,” Come Hell or High Water Community Memory Project, accessed April 11, 2026, https://helenehistory.omeka.net/items/show/1372.